Chapter 6: The Car in the Photograph
Detective Collins didn't show me the photograph immediately.
She first arranged for another officer to take Lily to a quiet room with a child advocate. I wanted to follow them, but Lily held my hand until the last possible second.
"You're coming back, right, Daddy?""
"Every time you look for me, sweetheart.""
She nodded and went with the advocate.
Only after the door closed did Detective Collins take out her phone.
"The image was part of the original evidence archive," she explained.
"It was taken by a responding officer at the scene. The vehicle appears in the background, partially obscured by trees.""
She turned the screen toward me.
I recognized the road immediately.
It was a narrow stretch outside Atlanta, bordered by pine trees and a shallow ditch. I had driven it countless times before Emily's death. Afterward, I couldn't bear to go near it.
In the photograph, Emily's silver sedan sat at an angle against the roadside barrier. Its front end was badly damaged.
Behind it stood a dark red SUV.
I leaned closer.
The driver's door was open.
A man stood beside the vehicle, his face turned away from the camera.
But I recognized the shape of the car.
The distinctive silver trim along the windows. The damaged rear bumper. The custom wheels James had bragged about installing only months before Emily died.
"That's my brother's car," I whispered.
Detective Collins nodded.
"According to the archived registration records, the SUV was registered to James Carter at the time.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Why wasn't this in the report?""
"That's one of the questions we're investigating. The final report states that no other vehicle was identified as being involved. The original image wasn't attached to the copy provided to your family.""
"Who removed it?""
"We don't know yet.""
I looked at the figure beside the SUV.
"Is that James?""
"We can't identify the person conclusively from this image. The resolution is poor, and the face is obscured.""
"But it's his car.""
"Yes.""
My hands began to shake.
For three years, I had trusted my brother's version of that night. He told me he'd been at home when Emily's accident occurred. He said he'd learned about it from my mother.
At the hospital, when I asked whether Emily had suffered, he had wrapped an arm around my shoulders and told me the doctors believed it had happened quickly.
How could he have known?
"Did you question him about this photograph?"" I asked.
"Not yet. We wanted to verify the registration and preserve the original file before contacting anyone.""
I rubbed my face.
"He's in the estate right now.""
"Another officer is speaking with him.""
I stood abruptly.
"I need to see him.""
"I strongly advise you not to confront him alone.""
"I'm not going to hurt him.""
"I believe you. But if he has information about your wife's death, we don't want to compromise the investigation.""
I forced myself to sit down.
For a moment, the room seemed impossibly small.
I remembered James arriving at the hospital that night with two cups of coffee. I remembered him saying, "You need to be strong for Lily.""
He had been right about that.
But what if he had also been the reason she lost her mother?
A soft knock came at the door.
Daniel entered, his face pale.
"Michael, the guests are leaving. Your mother is asking for you.""
I barely looked at him.
"Where's James?""
"With the police. Why?""
I handed Daniel my phone and showed him the photograph Detective Collins had allowed me to view.
His mouth fell open.
"That's James's SUV.""
"You recognize it?""
"I helped him buy it. I drove it when he took me to look at the dealership.""
Daniel stared at the screen.
"Michael, he told everyone he was home that night.""
"I know.""
He sat heavily in a chair.
"There's something else you need to know.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
Daniel swallowed.
"About six months after Emily died, James asked me to help him get rid of some old files from his home office. He said they were confidential business documents.""
"What kind of files?""
"I didn't look through them. But one folder fell open while we were loading the boxes into his car.""
"What was in it?""
"Bank statements. And a photograph of Emily.""
My pulse quickened.
"What photograph?""
"Her standing outside a law office. James snatched it away when he saw me looking.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel looked ashamed.
"Because he said she was investigating a business dispute and you didn't need any more stress. I believed him. I thought he was trying to protect you.""
I turned away, trying to keep my anger from spilling over.
Another person had seen a piece of the truth and chosen to leave it alone.
I couldn't blame Daniel for everything.
But I couldn't pretend his silence hadn't mattered.
"Do you still have the boxes?"" I asked.
"No. James took them away.""
"Where?""
"I don't know.""
Detective Collins returned before I could ask anything else.
"Mr. Carter, I need to speak with you again.""
Daniel stood.
"I'll give you privacy.""
"Stay," I told him.
"You may be able to help.""
The detective considered this, then nodded.
"We've confirmed that the SUV was registered to your brother. We've also located an old insurance claim involving that vehicle. It was reported damaged several days after your wife's death.""
I frowned.
"What kind of damage?""
"Damage to the front passenger-side panel and the headlight.""
I remembered the SUV. James had complained about a parking accident and said he'd hit a concrete post.
"When did he say it happened?""
"According to the claim, the damage occurred in a parking garage. However, the date was entered two days after the reported incident.""
Detective Collins paused.
"There's another issue. The original investigator's notes refer to a witness who saw a red SUV following your wife's car shortly before the crash. That witness statement is missing from the final file.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Can you find the witness?""
"We're trying.""
"Then find them.""
"We will.""
I stared at the photograph again.
"What happens now?""
"We'll speak with your brother and review the evidence. If we uncover grounds for further action, we'll proceed through the appropriate channels.""
It wasn't the answer I wanted.
I wanted someone to tell me that James had been arrested, that Emily's death had finally been explained, and that my daughter would never have to hear another frightening secret.
But I knew the truth wouldn't arrive simply because I needed it.
A sudden commotion sounded outside the room.
An officer appeared at the doorway.
"Detective, James Carter is requesting his attorney. Before he stopped speaking, he made a statement about the victim's financial records.""
Collins turned.
"What statement?""
The officer glanced at me.
"He said Emily was never supposed to have access to the original trust documents.""
My mouth went dry.
"Why?""
The officer hesitated.
"Because, according to him, those documents proved that the money wasn't his to take.""
Detective Collins immediately stepped into the hallway to confer with her colleague.
Daniel looked at me in disbelief.
I could barely hear him.
All I could think about was Emily sitting at our kitchen table six weeks before she died, holding a folder and telling me she had discovered something wrong with the accounts.
I had promised to look at it that weekend.
I never had.
She had died before I kept that promise.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I almost ignored it, but a message appeared on the screen.
*Michael, if you want to know what really happened to Emily, stop asking the police questions. Meet me tonight, and I'll show you the documents James has been hiding. Come alone.*
A second message followed.
*And bring the little girl. She remembers more than you think.*
I read it twice.
Then I looked toward the room where Lily was waiting with the child advocate.
Whoever had sent the message knew about my daughter.
May you like
And whoever it was had just made one thing very clear.
The secret behind Emily's death wasn't finished destroying my family.
