Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED
We went to Rachel's house.
Claire's sister lived forty minutes away.
She opened the door wearing a robe.
When she saw Lily crying beside me, her expression changed.
“What happened?”
I handed her the recorder.
Rachel listened.
By the end, her face had gone pale.
“You know who that is,” I said.
She looked at me.
“No.”
“Rachel.”
She swallowed.
“I know who Daniel is.”
Lily stood behind me.
Rachel noticed.
“Come inside.”
We sat in her living room.
For several minutes, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
“Claire didn't tell you about Sarah?”
“Who is Sarah?”
“Daniel's sister.”
I felt a chill.
“What happened to her?”
Rachel looked toward Lily.
“Sarah disappeared.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Before Daniel's crash?”
Rachel nodded.
“Sarah believed Daniel was still alive.”
“Why?”
“Because she received messages.”
“What kind?”
“Threats.”
I looked at the recorder.
“From Claire?”
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.”
“Rachel, I need the truth.”
She looked at me.
“Claire and Daniel were involved in something before you met her.”
“What?”
“Real estate fraud. Fake investment accounts. Money laundering.”
I stared at her.
“Claire?”
“She was young.”
“Did Daniel force her?”
Rachel hesitated.
“That is what Claire always said.”
“But you don't believe her.”
“I don't know what to believe anymore.”
I leaned forward.
“What happened to Sarah?”
“She came to me one night.”
Rachel's hands trembled.
“She said she had proof that Claire had helped Daniel steal money from investors.”
“Did she?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened next?”
“She disappeared.”
The room became silent.
Then Lily spoke.
“Mommy said Aunt Sarah moved away.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“She did not.”
I looked at Lily.
She lowered her head.
“Why did your mother say that?”
Lily whispered:
“Because Aunt Sarah knew the secret.”
I turned back to Rachel.
“What secret?”
Before Rachel could answer, the lights went out.
Lily screamed.
I stood.
“Stay here.”
A sound came from outside.
A car door slamming.
Then footsteps.
Rachel whispered:
“Someone followed you.”
I moved toward the window.
A shadow stood across the street.
Tall.
Still.
Watching the house.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED OUT OF THIS.
I looked at Lily.
She was shaking.
I looked at Rachel.
She was crying.
And suddenly I realized the truth was much bigger than a dead husband.
May you like
Someone had spent years protecting a secret.
And now that secret had begun to threaten a child.
