Chapter 7: The Recording From The Past
Nobody in the library moved.
Not even Lily.
The video notification glowed on Naomi’s phone like a warning.
*THE NIGHT EMILY CARTER DIED.*
The title alone made her heart race.
For years, she had lived with one version of the story.
Her mother had been driving home.
There had been an accident.
A terrible road.
A moment nobody could have prevented.
That was the story.
The story her father had told her.
The story everyone accepted.
But now someone was telling her there was another version.
A version hidden away.
A version that involved her father.
Naomi looked at Lily.
“Who sent this?””
Lily shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I don’t care if you believe me.””
Lily’s voice cracked.
“I just need you to watch it.””
Naomi looked at the screen.
Then at the memory card sitting on the table.
Then at Lily.
“What happens if I watch it?””
Lily looked away.
“You stop wondering.””
That answer frightened her.
Before Naomi could press play, her phone rang.
Dad.
She stared at the name.
Lily noticed.
“Don’t answer.””
Naomi looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because whoever sent that video wants you separated from him.””
Naomi hesitated.
But the phone kept ringing.
Finally, she answered.
“Hi.””
Daniel’s voice came immediately.
“Where are you?””
Naomi looked around.
“Library.””
“Are you alone?””
She glanced at Lily.
“No.””
A pause.
“Who’s with you?””
Naomi didn’t answer.
Her father noticed.
“Naomi.””
The concern in his voice almost made her tell him everything.
Almost.
But then she remembered.
The hidden files.
The missing evidence.
The secrets.
“Dad, did you know Mom’s office was broken into?””
Silence.
Too long.
That was enough.
“You knew.””
Daniel exhaled.
“I found out ten minutes ago.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to handle it.””
“Again.””
“Naomi—”
“No.””
Her voice became stronger.
“Every time something happens, you decide what I can handle.””
“That’s not what I’m doing.””
“It is.””
Another silence.
Then Daniel said:
“Come home.””
She looked at the video.
“I can’t.””
The words surprised both of them.
“Naomi.””
“I need answers.””
Her father’s voice became lower.
“Please.””
It was the first time she had heard him sound afraid.
Not as a sheriff.
As a father.
But before she could respond, the call ended.
Not because she hung up.
Because someone disconnected it.
Naomi looked at her phone.
The screen was frozen.
Then another notification appeared.
*Video ready.*
She pressed play.
The footage was old.
The quality was poor.
The camera shook slightly.
At first, Naomi didn’t understand what she was seeing.
A hallway.
A door.
A timestamp in the corner.
Then she recognized the place.
The sheriff’s office.
Years ago.
The night her mother died.
Naomi stopped breathing.
A younger version of her father appeared on screen.
He looked different.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
He looked exhausted.
Broken.
A man carrying something heavy.
Then another person entered the frame.
Naomi leaned closer.
The image was blurry.
But she recognized the voice.
“Daniel.””
Her heart dropped.
Because she knew that voice.
Everyone in Willow County knew that voice.
Sheriff Carter’s closest friend.
Deputy Thomas Reed.
The man who had worked beside her father for twenty years.
The man who had taught Naomi how to throw a baseball.
The man who had brought her birthday presents when she was little.
Her father’s best friend.
Thomas looked around nervously.
“We need to talk.””
Daniel said something too quiet to hear.
The audio crackled.
Then Thomas spoke louder.
“You can’t protect her anymore.””
Naomi froze.
Her mother.
They were talking about her mother.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What did you do?””
Thomas looked shocked.
“I didn’t do anything.””
“Then why are you here?””
The recording skipped.
The next clear words came from Thomas.
“She found the documents.””
Naomi felt a chill.
“What documents?”” she whispered.
Lily looked at her.
“I don’t know.””
On the screen, Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
“She wasn’t supposed to know.””
Naomi covered her mouth.
The sentence sounded impossible.
Her father.
Saying those words.
Then Thomas said something that made everything worse.
“She trusted you.””
The video glitched.
The image froze.
Then continued.
Daniel looked furious.
“You don’t get to say that.””
“Why?””
“Because you were the one who followed her.””
Naomi’s eyes widened.
Lily whispered:
“What?””
The recording cut again.
When it returned, Thomas was leaving.
Daniel grabbed his arm.
“Where is she?””
Thomas pulled away.
“I already told you.””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice shook.
“You told me what you wanted me to believe.””
The screen went black.
The video ended.
Naomi stared.
“No.””
She replayed it.
Nothing.
The same ending.
Her mind raced.
Her father knew.
Thomas knew.
But knew what?
Lily leaned closer.
“That’s not the whole video.””
Naomi looked at her.
“What?””
“The file was edited.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I found the original once.””
“Once?””
Lily looked down.
“Someone deleted it before I could copy everything.””
Naomi stood.
“Who?””
Lily didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
A shadow moved outside the library window.
Both girls turned.
Someone was standing in the rain.
Watching them.
Naomi stepped closer to the glass.
The person moved away.
“Wait.””
She ran toward the exit.
By the time she reached the sidewalk, the person was gone.
Only one thing remained.
A folded piece of paper on the ground.
Naomi picked it up.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
Three words.
*ASK THOMAS REED.*
That evening, Naomi didn’t go home.
She went to the baseball field.
The place where Thomas Reed used to take her when she was young.
She remembered him teaching her to throw.
Remembered him laughing.
Remembered him telling her:
“Your dad worries too much. Someone has to teach you how to have fun.””
Those memories felt different now.
Like they belonged to someone else.
A stranger wearing a familiar face.
She found Thomas sitting alone on the old bleachers.
He wasn’t surprised to see her.
That scared her.
“You knew I would come.””
Thomas looked at the empty field.
“Yes.””
Naomi stopped.
“You knew?””
He nodded.
“Because your mother was just like you.””
“What does that mean?””
“She never stopped looking for answers.””
Naomi stepped closer.
“Tell me what happened.””
Thomas was quiet.
Then he said:
“Your mother found something she wasn’t supposed to find.””
“What?””
“A connection between the Miller family and the county land deals.””
Naomi’s heart raced.
“And you?””
Thomas looked at her.
“I was trying to help her.””
“Then why did the video make it look like Dad blamed you?””
Thomas looked away.
“Because your father blamed himself.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“No.””
His voice became softer.
“It’s the truth.””
Naomi shook her head.
“Everyone keeps giving me half the truth.””
Thomas looked at her sadly.
“Because the full truth is dangerous.””
“Dangerous for who?””
He didn’t answer.
Naomi stepped closer.
“What happened the night my mother died?””
Thomas closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
“She wasn’t driving home.””
Naomi froze.
“What?””
“She was meeting someone.””
“Who?””
Thomas looked directly at her.
And for the first time, Naomi saw fear in his eyes.
“She was meeting your father.””
The words hit like a wave.
“My father?””
Thomas nodded.
“They were going to confront the person who betrayed her.””
Naomi’s voice became quiet.
“Who?””
Thomas opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, headlights appeared across the field.
A vehicle stopped.
A door opened.
Someone stepped out.
Thomas immediately stood.
“No.””
Naomi turned.
The person walking toward them was holding a badge.
But it wasn’t her father.
It was someone else.
Someone who had been missing from the investigation for fifteen years.
Someone who was supposed to have no connection to the case anymore.
Thomas whispered:
“Naomi…”
The person approached.
And Naomi recognized the face.
Rachel Miller.
Brooke’s mother.
May you like
Alive.
And standing right in front of her.
