Chapter 9: The Sister He Never Mentioned
Daniel had spent fifteen years telling me he had no family nearby.
No siblings.
No relatives.
Nobody who mattered.
When holidays came, it was always just us.
When birthdays came, it was always just us.
I never questioned it.
Because why would I?
I trusted my husband.
That was the problem.
I trusted him.
The nurse stood in the doorway.
“She’s waiting outside.””
Detective Grant looked at me.
“Do you want to speak with her?””
I looked at Emily.
She looked terrified.
But then she nodded.
“I want to know why.””
Vanessa Carter entered a few minutes later.
The first thing I noticed was her eyes.
They looked like Daniel’s.
Same shape.
Same intensity.
But unlike Daniel…
She looked ashamed.
“Sarah?””
“Yes.””
“I’m Vanessa.””
I didn’t offer my hand.
“Daniel never told me about you.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
She looked down.
“Because he didn’t want you to.””
That answer made my stomach tighten.
“Why?””
Vanessa sat slowly.
“Because I know what he did before.””
The room became silent.
Detective Grant leaned forward.
“What do you mean?””
Vanessa looked at Emily.
“I mean Daniel has done this before.””
My daughter went still.
“Done what?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“Covered for someone.””
I felt cold.
“Someone like Victor?””
She nodded.
“Daniel met Victor years ago.””
“How many years?””
“Almost ten.””
Before Emily.
Before our marriage became what I thought it was.
“What happened?””
Vanessa looked at her hands.
“Our father owned a small company. Daniel handled the finances.””
Detective Grant listened carefully.
“And?””
“He made mistakes.””
“What kind?””
“Money disappeared.””
I stared.
“Are you saying he stole?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I’m saying he was desperate.””
“That doesn’t answer the question.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“It doesn’t.””
The honesty surprised me.
“Then what does Victor have to do with this?””
“Victor helped him hide it.””
My heart sank.
“So Daniel owed him.””
“Yes.””
“And the lake house?””
Vanessa nodded.
“I think Victor used the situation to control him.””
Emily whispered:
“Control him?””
Vanessa looked at her.
“I’m sorry.””
“Why?””
“Because I should have warned you.””
“Why didn’t you?””
Her eyes filled.
“Because Daniel threatened me.””
“With what?””
“My daughter.””
The room froze.
“He said if I spoke, he would make sure I never saw her again.””
My anger returned.
Everyone was afraid of him.
Everyone.
But Emily had been the youngest.
The most vulnerable.
And somehow she was the one expected to survive it.
Detective Grant asked:
“Vanessa, do you have anything that can prove Daniel’s connection with Victor?””
Vanessa nodded.
“I brought something.””
She reached into her bag.
She placed a folder on the table.
I stared at it.
“What is that?””
“Records.””
Detective Grant opened it.
Inside were copies of old transactions.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
She studied them.
Then looked up.
“Where did you get these?””
“Daniel’s office.””
My heart stopped.
“You went into his office?””
“Last week.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew something was wrong.””
Detective Grant continued reading.
Then suddenly stopped.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Sarah…”
Her voice changed.
“What?””
She turned the page.
“There’s a payment here.””
“From who?””
She looked at Emily.
“To Victor Lang.””
“How much?””
Detective Grant swallowed.
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.””
“When?””
She looked at the date.
The same date Emily’s ultrasound was scheduled.
The same date Daniel tried to stop us from going to the doctor.
I felt numb.
“He paid Victor the same week he tried to hide Emily’s pregnancy.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Emily looked at Vanessa.
“Why?””
Vanessa’s face broke.
“Because Daniel wasn’t trying to protect you.””
“Then what was he trying to do?””
Vanessa looked at me.
And said the words I had been afraid to hear.
“He was trying to buy time.””
“Time for what?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
But before she answered, Detective Grant’s phone rang.
She listened.
Her expression changed.
“What happened?””
She looked at me.
“Daniel just left the house.””
“Where is he going?””
She stood.
“That’s the problem.””
“What?””
“He’s heading to the airport.””
My heart dropped.
“Can he leave?””
Detective Grant grabbed her jacket.
“We don’t know yet.””
Then Emily whispered something.
Something so quiet I almost missed it.
“Mom.””
I turned.
“What?””
She looked at the folder.
At the payment.
At the date.
Then she said:
“I know why he was buying time.””
“Why?””
Her face went pale.
“Because Daniel wasn’t afraid that Victor would expose him.””
May you like
She looked at me.
“He was afraid Victor would expose me.””
