Chapter 14: What Rachel Died Protecting
Daniel ran to the living room.
"Ben.""
His brother saw his face and immediately stood.
"What?""
"Take the kids upstairs.""
"Why?""
"Eric's nearby.""
Ben grabbed Noah.
Daniel lifted Lily.
Her eyes widened.
"What's wrong?""
"Nothing you need to worry about.""
"Are you scared?""
Daniel stopped.
He wouldn't lie to her anymore.
"A little.""
Lily wrapped her arms around his neck.
"It's okay, Daddy.""
The words nearly broke him.
He carried her upstairs.
"Stay with Uncle Ben.""
"Where are you going?""
"Downstairs.""
"Don't leave.""
Daniel kissed her forehead.
"I'm staying in the house.""
Police arrived minutes later.
Harris entered through the front door.
"We found Eric's phone two streets away.""
"His phone?""
"Dumped beside the road.""
"So you don't know where he is.""
"No.""
Daniel looked through the curtains.
Every parked car suddenly seemed threatening.
Then the doorbell rang.
Everyone froze.
Harris signaled to the officers.
One moved toward the side window.
Another checked the camera.
"It's a woman.""
Daniel looked at the screen.
Carol.
Melissa's mother.
Harris opened the door after officers confirmed she was alone.
Carol stepped inside.
She looked exhausted.
"What are you doing here?"" Daniel asked.
"I remembered something.""
"This isn't a good time.""
"It can't wait.""
Harris searched her bag.
Nothing dangerous.
Carol held up an old key.
"Melissa gave me this two years ago.""
Daniel stared.
"What does it open?""
"I didn't know until police asked about Eric's storage properties.""
Harris took the key.
A tag read C-17.
Daniel frowned.
"Carter Development?""
Carol nodded.
"Melissa told me if anything happened to her, I should empty locker C-17 before Eric found it.""
Daniel's pulse jumped.
"Why didn't you tell police earlier?""
"I forgot.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You remembered a phone full of videos but forgot a secret key?""
Carol lowered her eyes.
"I was afraid.""
Daniel laughed without humor.
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
"I know.""
"Rachel was afraid too.""
Carol began crying.
"And she still tried to stop them.""
That silenced the room.
Harris examined the key.
"C-17 could be a storage cage at the old yard.""
Daniel looked at him.
"The yard you just searched?""
"Not all of it.""
They left immediately.
Daniel stayed with the children this time.
It was one of the hardest decisions he'd ever made.
Every part of him wanted answers.
But Lily needed a father more than Rachel needed an investigator.
An hour later, Harris called.
"We found C-17.""
"And?""
"Melissa used it.""
"For what?""
"Insurance.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Against Eric?""
"And Martin.""
Inside were copies of emails, photographs, financial records, and audio recordings Melissa had secretly preserved.
Then Harris told him about one particular video.
Melissa had recorded Eric during an argument eighteen months earlier.
Eric said:
"You were supposed to get the trust access and keep Daniel distracted.""
Melissa replied:
"I did.""
Eric said:
"Then why does Lily still have Rachel's things?""
"Because Daniel won't let me throw them away.""
"Find the evidence.""
"And if I can't?""
A long pause.
Then Eric answered:
"Do what you did with Rachel. Make the problem disappear.""
Daniel couldn't speak.
Harris continued.
"Melissa responds that she had nothing to do with Rachel's death.""
"What does Eric say?""
"He laughs.""
Daniel's skin crawled.
"And then?""
"He says, 'Keep telling yourself that.''"
Daniel sat down.
"What does that mean?""
"We don't know yet.""
"Does Melissa?""
"She's being interviewed again.""
Thirty minutes later, Harris called back.
This time, Melissa had finally told them everything.
She admitted she'd helped Martin identify accounts.
She admitted marrying Daniel initially gave her access to financial correspondence.
She admitted taking trust money.
She admitted searching Lily's belongings.
And she admitted making Lily miserable because she wanted Daniel to consider sending the little girl to relatives.
But on Rachel's death, Melissa insisted on one thing.
"She says Eric called her the night Rachel went to the hospital," Harris explained.
"Why?""
"He told her Rachel had become ill and the problem would soon solve itself.""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Did she ask what he meant?""
"Yes.""
"And?""
"Eric told her not to ask questions she didn't want answered.""
Daniel covered his face.
Melissa hadn't killed Rachel.
But she'd known enough to suspect.
And she'd still married him.
Still entered Rachel's home.
Still tormented Rachel's child.
Daniel whispered, "Find him.""
"We will.""
That evening, another call came.
This one from an unknown number.
Daniel looked at Harris, who was still at the house.
Harris nodded.
Daniel answered.
"Hello?""
Eric.
"Dan.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Where are you?""
"Doesn't matter.""
"It does to me.""
Eric sounded tired.
"You found C-17.""
"Yes.""
"So Melissa finally betrayed everyone.""
"You mean like you betrayed me?""
Eric laughed weakly.
"You want the truth about Rachel?""
Daniel's heart pounded.
"I want you in custody.""
"Come to the first house we built.""
Daniel froze.
Their first construction project.
A small lakeside home fifteen miles away.
It had been empty for months awaiting renovation.
"Why?""
"Because I have Keller.""
Harris's eyes widened.
Daniel put the call on speaker.
Eric continued.
"The good doctor has decided he wants to confess.""
A second voice suddenly shouted in the background.
"Don't come here!""
Dr. Keller.
Then a crash.
The line went dead.
Harris was already moving.
Daniel caught his arm.
"I'm coming.""
"No.""
"He asked for me.""
"Which is why you're staying here.""
Daniel stared at him.
Then Lily appeared on the stairs.
"Daddy?""
Daniel turned.
She held Rachel's stuffed dog.
"Are you leaving?""
Daniel looked at Harris.
Then at his daughter.
Three years ago, Rachel had tried to protect this family by facing danger alone.
Daniel finally understood something she hadn't lived long enough to learn.
Protecting your family didn't always mean walking toward danger.
Sometimes it meant refusing to leave them.
Daniel crouched.
"No, sweetheart.""
Lily smiled.
"I'm staying right here.""
Two hours later, Harris called.
They had Eric.
Alive.
In custody.
Dr. Keller was alive too.
May you like
And before officers took him away, Keller had spoken five words that finally cracked the case open.
"Eric paid me to switch it.""
