Chapter 8: The Debt
Mark put Elliot on speaker.
“What do you want?””
Elliot didn’t bother with greetings.
“Is Daniel with you?””
“Yes,” I said.
A long silence followed.
Then Elliot sighed.
“Of course he is.””
“You knew Rachel was being followed the night she died.””
“I knew Thomas wanted to speak with her.””
“That isn’t what I said.””
“Daniel, be careful what you accuse people of.””
“Thomas is dead. Rachel is dead. Stop protecting him.””
“I’m protecting living people.””
“Vanessa?””
Elliot went quiet.
Mark leaned toward the phone.
“Rachel said Vanessa wasn't Thomas’s daughter.””
“Rachel said many things.””
“Was she lying?””
Another silence.
“No.””
Mark sat down.
“My brother raised another man’s child?””
“Yes.””
“Who was her father?””
Elliot exhaled.
“This conversation should happen in person.””
“No,” I said.
“It happens now.””
“You’re not ready for it.””
“Try me.””
Elliot’s voice became quieter.
“Your father.””
I didn't understand.
“My father what?””
“Your father was Vanessa’s biological father.””
The repair shop disappeared around me.
Mark whispered, “Jesus.””
I gripped the desk.
“That’s impossible.””
“It isn’t.””
“My father died when I was seventeen.””
“Vanessa was already born.””
I calculated automatically.
Vanessa was three years younger than me.
It was possible.
“No.””
“Thomas’s wife had an affair with your father. Thomas discovered it after Vanessa was born.””
I shook my head.
“Then why raise her?””
“Because he loved his wife. And eventually he loved Vanessa.””
“Why was he watching me?””
“Because after your father died, Thomas felt responsible for you.””
“Responsible?””
“Guilty.””
My stomach tightened.
“For what?””
Elliot hesitated.
“Your father didn't die from a heart attack.””
I stopped breathing.
That was what I had been told.
Dad collapsed at work.
By the time I reached the hospital, he was gone.
“What are you saying?””
“Thomas confronted him about the affair. They fought.””
Mark closed his eyes.
Elliot continued.
“Your father fell down a staircase.””
The room went completely silent.
“Thomas never intended to kill him.””
My voice sounded unfamiliar.
“And you covered it up?””
“The official conclusion was accidental trauma followed by cardiac arrest.””
“You covered it up.””
“I handled the legal exposure.””
“You mean you buried it.””
“Yes.””
At least he admitted it.
My knees weakened.
I sat.
“So Thomas paid my college tuition because he killed my father.””
“Partly.””
“And Vanessa knew?””
“Not until she was older.””
“How old?””
“Twenty-one.””
Years before she met me.
Or pretended to meet me.
I looked at Mark.
“Why would she marry me?””
Elliot answered.
“I warned her not to.””
“That doesn't answer me.””
“No. It doesn’t.””
“Then answer.””
“She became obsessed with your family.””
My skin crawled.
“In what way?””
“She believed your father destroyed hers.””
“Her mother had the affair.””
“Vanessa didn’t see it that way. She blamed your father for seducing her mother, blamed Thomas for becoming bitter, and eventually blamed you for receiving Thomas’s guilt money.””
“I didn’t know about any money.””
“She knew.””
The down payment.
College.
Maybe other things.
My entire adult life had invisible fingerprints on it.
“What did Rachel discover?””
“Most of it.””
“And the foundation theft?””
“That was separate. Thomas had begun moving charitable funds to cover losses in his private businesses.””
“Rachel found out.””
“Yes.””
“So he tried to buy her silence.””
“Yes.””
“And Vanessa confronted her.””
“Yes.””
My throat tightened.
“Did Vanessa kill Rachel?””
Elliot answered immediately.
“No.””
“You’re sure?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Because Vanessa was with me when Rachel crashed.””
Mark and I looked at each other.
“Where?””
“My office. She was furious with Thomas. She wanted me to stop him from meeting Rachel.””
“Then who followed Rachel?””
Elliot went silent.
“Elliot.””
“I don't know.””
“Rachel said someone was behind her.””
“I know.””
“You heard the recording?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Thomas brought me her phone the morning after she died.””
The words hit like ice water.
“Thomas had Rachel’s phone?””
“Yes.””
“Police told me it wasn't recovered.””
“I know.””
My hands curled into fists.
“He took it from the crash?””
“I believe so.””
“And you let him keep it?””
“I made mistakes.””
“That’s not a mistake.””
“I know.””
I stood and paced.
“Why didn't he destroy it?””
“Thomas kept evidence. Insurance, he called it.””
Mark gave a bitter laugh.
“That sounds like him.””
I stopped.
“Then how did Vanessa get the phone?””
“After Thomas died, she took it.””
“Why?””
“Because Rachel’s final recording contains something Vanessa never wanted you to hear.””
“The part about our fathers?””
“No.””
My stomach dropped.
“What else is there?””
Elliot said, “Ask Vanessa why she visited Rachel in the hospital the morning Emily was born.””
I froze.
“She wasn't there.””
“Yes, she was.””
“I was there all day.””
“Not while Rachel was in recovery.””
Images flashed through my mind.
Emily being weighed.
Me calling Mom.
A nurse telling me Rachel needed rest.
Forty minutes when I had gone downstairs for coffee.
“What happened?””
“I don't know. Rachel refused to tell me.””
“Then why mention it?””
“Because after that visit, Rachel called Thomas and told him Vanessa had crossed a line she could never forgive.””
The call disconnected.
I immediately called Vanessa.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
Then Mom called.
“Daniel.””
Something in her voice terrified me.
“What happened?””
“Emily woke up crying.””
“I’ll come back.””
“No. She said something you need to hear first.””
“What?””
Mom lowered her voice.
“She remembers Vanessa taking her somewhere last month.””
“Where?””
“She doesn't know. But there was a woman there.””
“What woman?””
“Emily says Vanessa called her Nurse Kelly.””
My stomach turned.
“Why did Vanessa take her there?””
May you like
Mom paused.
“Emily says the woman put a cotton swab inside her cheek.””
