Chapter 11: The Secret Inside the Computer
I didn't accuse Vanessa.
Not yet.
For the first time in weeks, I saw something real on her face.
Fear.
Not the fear of being caught.
The fear of not knowing.
"Daniel," I said, "can you track when it was submitted?""
"Yes.""
"Do it.""
I ended the call.
Vanessa stared at me.
"Michael...""
"Don't.""
She stopped.
"I don't know what happened anymore.""
Neither did I.
Because the truth had become more complicated.
Vanessa had hurt Emily.
She had lied.
She had tried to access money that wasn't hers.
But someone else had taken the final step.
Someone else had used my computer.
My documents.
My identity.
That afternoon, I checked every device in the house.
My laptop.
The family tablet.
The old desktop in the office.
Then I found something.
A saved login.
An unfamiliar email address.
I wrote it down.
Vanessa walked in.
"What is that?""
"I don't know.""
She looked at the screen.
Then her expression changed.
"You know that email?""
I turned.
"Do you?""
She hesitated.
"Michael...""
"Who is it?""
She looked away.
"I don't know.""
I stepped closer.
"You're lying.""
"No.""
"Then why did you react like that?""
She sat down.
"I've seen it before.""
"Where?""
"On Tyler's tablet.""
I froze.
"Tyler?""
Vanessa nodded.
"He talks to someone online.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
The room suddenly felt colder.
Tyler was eight years old.
He shouldn't have been involved in adult problems.
I went upstairs.
Tyler was sitting on his bed.
His eyes widened when he saw me.
"Can I ask about your tablet?""
He immediately looked nervous.
"Why?""
"Because I found something.""
His face changed.
"I didn't do anything.""
I sat beside him.
"I'm not angry.""
He looked down.
"Mom said you would blame me.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Tyler, I need the truth.""
He stayed quiet.
Then he whispered:
"Someone told Mom what to do.""
"What someone?""
"I don't know.""
"Who talked to her?""
Tyler rubbed his hands together.
"A man.""
My heart jumped.
"What man?""
"I heard him on the phone.""
"What did he say?""
Tyler looked terrified.
"He said Mom needed to stop being emotional and follow the plan.""
I felt sick.
"What plan?""
Tyler started crying.
"The plan to make Emily leave.""
I immediately hugged him.
"Tyler, listen to me.""
He looked up.
"You are not in trouble.""
"But I helped.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You were scared.""
He wiped his face.
"I gave Mom the key because she said we would lose our house.""
I stayed with him until he calmed down.
Then I checked his tablet.
There was one message thread.
No profile picture.
No real name.
Just a username.
The messages were short.
"Did you get the papers?""
"Not yet.""
"Don't fail me.""
"Remember, the money comes first.""
My hands went cold.
Someone had been directing everything.
Someone had been using Vanessa.
Then a new message appeared.
I watched the screen.
A notification popped up.
The sender wrote:
"Tell Michael to stop asking questions.""
I stared at the words.
Because the person wasn't hiding anymore.
They knew I was investigating.
I took a screenshot.
Then I called Daniel.
"We found the person behind this.""
A few minutes later, Daniel called back.
"Michael, send me everything.""
I did.
Then he called again.
His voice sounded different.
More serious.
"Michael.""
"What?""
"The person using that account...""
I waited.
"Is connected to Rachel's family.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Rachel's family?""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
"Rachel's older brother.""
I couldn't move.
Rachel had been gone for three years.
Her family rarely contacted us.
And now someone from her side was trying to control Emily's future.
"Why?""
Daniel answered quietly.
"That's what we need to find out.""
Then another message appeared on Tyler's tablet.
One final message.
May you like
One that made my blood run cold.
"Michael Carter has to disappear before the hearing.""
