Chapter 3: The Name on the Paper
Vanessa moved faster than I expected.
She reached for the paper.
Emily screamed.
I caught Vanessa around the waist before she could touch her.
“Give it to me!”” Vanessa shouted.
That told me everything I needed to know.
Whatever was on that paper mattered.
“Caleb,” I said, keeping myself between Vanessa and Emily.
“Take your sister downstairs.””
“Daniel—”
“Now.””
Caleb took Ava’s hand.
Then he looked at Emily.
“Come with us.””
Emily shook her head and pressed herself against my leg.
“I want Daddy.””
“You stay with me,” I said.
Vanessa’s breathing was ragged.
“This is completely out of control.””
“You're right.””
I held out my hand.
“Emily, can I see the paper?””
She gave it to me.
It had been folded four times.
I opened it carefully.
At first, I didn't understand what I was looking at.
It was a photocopy of an old bank statement.
The account belonged to me.
Except I had never seen it before.
The date was seven years ago.
A few months before Emily was born.
There was a transfer for $48,000.
The recipient line contained a name that made the room disappear around me.
Rachel Morgan.
Emily’s mother.
My first wife.
The woman I had buried six years ago.
“What is this?””
Vanessa said nothing.
I looked closer.
The transfer had come from an account belonging to someone named Thomas Hale.
I knew that name too.
Vanessa’s late father.
I stared at her.
“Why was your father sending Rachel forty-eight thousand dollars?””
“I don't know.””
“You kept this under our bed.””
“I found it years ago.””
“Where?””
“Daniel, it doesn't matter.””
“It matters to me.””
Emily tugged my sleeve.
“There are more.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
My heart started pounding.
“More what?””
“Papers.””
“Where?””
Emily pointed toward our bedroom.
“Under the drawer.””
Vanessa stepped into my path.
“No.””
I stared at her.
“Move.””
“You’re frightening the children.””
I almost couldn't believe the words.
“You made my daughter eat crumbs off a paper towel.””
“She was never starving!””
“Move.””
“No.””
I walked around her.
She grabbed my shirt.
“Daniel, if you go through that drawer, you are going to destroy this family.””
I stopped.
Then I looked down at her hand gripping me.
“This family was already being destroyed. I just came home early enough to see it.””
Her fingers loosened.
I entered the bedroom.
Emily followed me.
The bottom dresser drawer looked normal.
I removed it.
Behind it sat a large yellow envelope.
My name was written across the front.
Not in Vanessa’s handwriting.
Rachel’s.
My knees nearly gave out.
I hadn't seen that handwriting since the hospital.
“Daddy?””
“I’m okay.””
I wasn't.
I opened the envelope.
Inside were bank records, printed emails, and three photographs.
The first showed Rachel standing outside a restaurant with Thomas Hale.
The second showed Thomas handing her an envelope.
The third showed Rachel crying in her car.
On the back, someone had written a date.
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
“Please.””
It was the first time that evening she sounded afraid.
I turned over the next document.
An email.
From Rachel to Thomas.
I read the first lines twice.
Thomas,
I won't keep lying to Daniel. He deserves to know what happened, and Vanessa deserves to know what you did too.
I looked up.
“What did your father do?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Stop lying.””
“I’m not!””
“Then why did you hide this?””
“Because I knew what you would think.””
“What should I think?””
Emily squeezed my hand.
Vanessa stared at her.
Something ugly returned to her face.
“This is because of you.””
I stepped forward immediately.
“Do not blame her.””
“If she had stayed out of my room—”
“She is six!””
“She snoops!””
Emily hid behind me.
“Enough.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You want the truth? Fine. Your precious Rachel wasn't who you thought she was.””
“Don't.””
“She took money from my father.””
“I can see that.””
“And she promised him something.””
“What?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Then closed.
I looked back at the papers.
There was another email.
This one had been printed from Rachel’s account but never sent.
Daniel,
If anything happens to me before I can explain this, don't believe the story Thomas tells you. I took the money because I needed proof. Vanessa doesn't know everything, but she knows enough to—
The message stopped.
The second page was missing.
I searched the envelope.
Nothing.
“Where is page two?””
Vanessa stared at me.
“I never had it.””
I didn't believe her.
Then Emily spoke.
“I saw it.””
We both turned.
“When?”” I asked.
“Yesterday.””
“Where?””
Emily pointed toward Vanessa.
“She was reading it.””
Vanessa’s face went completely still.
I stepped toward her.
“Where is the second page?””
“I threw it away.””
I headed for the trash.
Vanessa blocked me.
“It’s gone.””
“Move.””
“The garbage truck came this morning.””
I stared at her.
Then Caleb called from downstairs.
“Daniel!””
There was panic in his voice.
I ran.
Emily stayed close behind me.
Caleb stood in the living room holding Vanessa’s phone.
Ava was beside him.
“What happened?””
“Mom's phone kept ringing.””
Vanessa rushed down the stairs.
“Give me that!””
Caleb stepped behind me.
The phone rang again.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a man's voice spoke.
“Is this Daniel?””
“Yes.””
Another pause.
“My name is Mark Hale.””
Vanessa grabbed the banister.
Her face turned white.
I looked at her.
“Who is Mark Hale?””
The man on the phone answered before she could.
“Thomas Hale was my brother.””
My mouth went dry.
“What do you want?””
“I've been trying to reach Vanessa for two days.””
Vanessa shook her head desperately.
“Hang up.””
I turned away from her.
“Why?””
Mark inhaled slowly.
“Because I found something while clearing out Thomas's storage unit.””
“What?””
“A letter from Rachel Morgan.””
Emily's fingers tightened around mine.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying now.
Not angry tears.
Terrified ones.
“What does the letter say?”” I asked.
Mark went quiet for several seconds.
Then he said, “Before I tell you that, Daniel, I need you to answer one question.””
May you like
“What question?””
“Did Vanessa ever tell you she knew Rachel before you met her?””
