Chapter 2: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was Marcus's uneven breathing.
Vanessa stood beside the open front door, her vacation bag hanging from one shoulder. Her gaze remained fixed on the sealed evidence bag in Detective Ross's hand.
Marcus noticed.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa looked up.
“What?””
“You said something.””
“No, I didn't.””
“You were looking at that tablet.””
“Marcus, I'm upset. Your daughter—”
“Don't use my daughter to avoid answering me.””
Vanessa recoiled as if he had struck her.
Detective Ellis stepped between them.
“Everyone needs to remain calm. We have questions, and we need honest answers.””
Ross placed the evidence bag carefully on the dining table, keeping it within sight.
“We're not here to make assumptions,” he said.
“We're here because the information we've recovered raises concerns.””
Naomi gripped the back of a chair.
“What information?””
Ellis looked at her with an expression that softened briefly.
“Mrs. Reed, we understand this is difficult. We don't want to overwhelm you, but we need to establish a timeline.””
Naomi nodded.
“Ask me anything.””
Ross turned to Marcus.
“When did you last speak directly to Lily?””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Three days before we left for Jamaica.””
“Before you left?””
“Yes. She was in bed. She had a fever, and she wasn't feeling well.””
“What did she say?””
Marcus swallowed.
“She asked me not to go.””
Vanessa looked down.
Naomi closed her eyes.
Ross continued.
“What did you tell her?””
“That I'd only be gone for a few days. That I'd bring her something back.””
“Did you know her condition had worsened?””
Marcus shook his head.
“Naomi said the doctors were monitoring her. I thought—”
“Who told you she was improving?”” Ellis asked.
Marcus hesitated.
“I don't remember exactly.””
Naomi stared at him.
“You don't remember?””
“I was dealing with work.””
“You were planning a vacation.””
“I was trying to get away from everything!””
The shout echoed through the room.
Marcus immediately looked toward Lily's photograph.
His voice dropped.
“I didn't mean it like that.””
Naomi's eyes filled again, but she refused to look away.
“Then tell them the truth.””
Marcus turned back to the detectives.
“I received a message saying Lily had been resting comfortably. I thought she was getting better.””
Ellis opened her folder.
“Who sent that message?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know who contacted you about your own daughter?””
“I was receiving updates. Some were from Naomi, some were from—”
He stopped.
Ross leaned forward.
“From whom, Mr. Reed?””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Naomi caught the movement.
“Say it,” she demanded.
Marcus swallowed.
“Vanessa helped me keep track of things while we were away.””
Naomi stared at him in disbelief.
“You let your mistress manage information about your dying child?””
“That's not what happened!””
“Then what happened?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Detective Ellis studied Vanessa.
“Ms. Cole, did you communicate with Lily during the trip?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Did Lily contact you?””
“No.””
“Did you ever possess her tablet?””
“Absolutely not.””
Ross picked up the evidence bag.
“Then you won't mind explaining why your phone number appears in the records associated with one of the deleted messages.””
Vanessa's face went completely still.
Marcus turned toward her.
“Your number?””
Ross didn't answer immediately.
“We haven't established the full context yet. That's why we're asking questions.””
Vanessa forced a laugh that sounded brittle and wrong.
“This has to be a mistake. Lily was eight. She barely knew how to use all the settings on that thing.””
Naomi slowly lifted her head.
“She knew how to send messages.””
Vanessa glanced at her.
“I'm sure she did. I just mean—”
“She sent messages to people she trusted,” Naomi interrupted.
“She sent me pictures of her stuffed bear. She sent her grandmother little voice recordings. And she sent her father messages because she missed him.””
Marcus looked at the floor.
Naomi stepped closer to Vanessa.
“So why are you afraid of what might be on that tablet?””
“I'm not afraid.””
“Then look at it.””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward Ross.
“Why are you treating me like a criminal? I came here because Marcus asked me to.””
Naomi let out a disbelieving breath.
“You came into my house carrying a suitcase while my daughter's memorial was sitting three feet away.””
“I didn't know!””
“You didn't know what?””
Vanessa faltered.
For the first time, she seemed unable to find a quick answer.
Detective Ellis made a note.
“Ms. Cole, when did you learn that Lily had died?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Today.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Today?””
She nodded.
“You told me Naomi was being dramatic when she stopped answering her phone. You said Lily was still being treated.””
Marcus took a step toward her.
“I never said that.””
“You said you didn't know what was happening!””
“I told you I couldn't get through to Naomi!””
“And I told you to come home!””
The words escaped Vanessa before she could stop them.
Silence swallowed the room.
Detective Ross exchanged a brief look with Ellis.
Naomi went pale.
“What do you mean you told him to come home?””
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
Marcus stared at her.
“Vanessa.””
She backed away.
“I was upset. I didn't mean—”
“When?”” Ross asked firmly.
Vanessa's eyes moved between the detectives.
“When did you tell him to come home?””
She clutched her handbag against her chest.
“Yesterday.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No. You said you didn't know.””
“I didn't know she was dead!””
“But you knew something was wrong.””
Vanessa began to cry, although her eyes remained open and alert.
“I thought it was just another hospital visit. You told me not to worry.””
Naomi looked at Marcus as if she no longer recognized him.
“How many times did you tell her not to worry while our daughter was asking for you?””
Marcus had no answer.
Ellis closed her folder.
“We need to examine the communications between all three of you. For now, nobody should delete, alter, or discard anything that might be relevant.””
Vanessa nodded too quickly.
“Of course.””
Ross picked up the tablet.
“One more question, Ms. Cole.””
She froze.
“Have you ever used this device?””
“No.””
“Have you ever had access to Lily's messaging accounts?””
“No.””
Ross held her gaze.
“Then perhaps you can explain why a message from Lily was opened on a device registered to you shortly before the records disappeared.””
Marcus stepped away from Vanessa.
Naomi slowly lowered herself into a chair.
Vanessa's face lost what little color remained.
“That can't be right,” she whispered.
Detective Ellis watched her carefully.
“Why not?””
Vanessa looked toward Marcus, silently pleading for something he couldn't give her.
Then she turned toward the memorial table.
May you like
Her eyes settled on Lily's photograph.
And in a voice so quiet that everyone had to strain to hear it, she said, “Because I thought she'd never tell anyone.””
