Chapter 10: The Box Sarah Hid Away
I couldn’t move.
The woman’s words repeated in my head.
“Sarah wasn’t the only person Daniel was trying to get rid of.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What do you mean?””
The room watched me.
Daniel watched me.
That was the part that scared me most.
He wasn’t confused.
He wasn’t asking who was calling.
He looked like he already knew.
The woman on the phone took a shaky breath.
“My name is Rachel. Sarah asked me to keep something safe.””
“Why didn’t you tell anyone before?””
There was silence.
Then she whispered:
“Because Sarah told me not to.””
My heart sank.
“She thought someone was watching her.””
I looked at Daniel.
His expression changed slightly.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“I’m outside your mother’s house.””
Everyone turned toward the windows.
“What?””
“I didn’t want to come inside until I knew Daniel wasn’t alone.””
The room went silent.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who is this?””
I moved away from him.
“Stay back.””
His face hardened.
“You think I’m dangerous now?””
I didn’t answer.
Because Sarah had spent months preparing for this moment.
And every piece of evidence pointed in one direction.
Rachel entered a few minutes later.
She was Sarah’s best friend since college.
I had met her many times.
She looked exhausted.
Like she had been carrying a secret too heavy for one person.
She held a small black box.
“This is what Sarah gave me.””
Daniel stared at it.
“What is that?””
Rachel looked at him.
“She told me never to give it to you.””
The room became colder.
Mr. Collins stepped closer.
“May I see it?””
Rachel handed it to him.
The box was locked.
A small silver key was taped underneath.
My heart raced.
Sarah always loved details.
She always thought ten steps ahead.
Mr. Collins opened it carefully.
Inside were several items.
A flash drive.
A notebook.
A sealed envelope.
And a photograph.
I picked up the photograph first.
It showed Sarah standing outside a building.
Next to her was another person.
Someone I didn’t recognize.
“Who is that?””
Rachel looked at the picture.
“That’s Michael.””
Daniel suddenly looked up.
“Michael?””
Everyone noticed.
I turned toward him.
“You know him?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Rachel looked confused.
“You do know him.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
But his voice wasn’t convincing.
Mr. Collins picked up the notebook.
“This appears to be Sarah’s handwriting.””
He opened it.
The first page had a date.
Three months before Sarah’s death.
The title at the top made my stomach drop.
*Things Daniel Doesn’t Want Anyone To Know.*
Nobody spoke.
Mr. Collins read silently.
Then his expression changed.
“What?””
I asked.
He looked at me.
“Sarah believed Daniel had access to information about another person’s finances.””
“Whose finances?””
He turned the page.
Before he could answer, Daniel grabbed the notebook.
Mr. Collins immediately took it back.
“Mr. Mercer.””
Daniel’s breathing became heavier.
“This is insane.””
Rachel stepped forward.
“Sarah told me you would say that.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What?””
“She said you would deny everything.””
The room froze.
Rachel continued.
“She said you would make people think she was unstable.””
Daniel’s face turned red.
“She was my wife.””
“And she was afraid of you.””
Nobody spoke.
That sentence hurt.
Because Sarah had never told us that.
She protected him until the end.
Mr. Collins opened the flash drive.
“We need to review this carefully.””
Daniel suddenly looked toward the door.
“I’m leaving.””
“No.””
My voice surprised even me.
He stopped.
“This is my house.””
I looked around.
“No.””
I pointed toward Sarah’s photographs.
“This was my sister’s home.””
Daniel stared at me.
For once, he had no answer.
Mr. Collins connected the flash drive.
A folder appeared.
Only one file.
Named:
*For Emily.*
My breath caught.
He clicked it.
Sarah appeared on the screen again.
But this time, she wasn’t sitting at the kitchen table.
She was in her car.
Her face was serious.
“Emily.””
I covered my mouth.
“If you’re watching this, it means you found the box.””
She looked down.
“I wanted to tell you myself.””
A pause.
“But I was afraid I wouldn’t get the chance.””
My eyes filled with tears.
Sarah looked directly into the camera.
“There is someone helping Daniel.””
The room went silent.
“Someone inside our family.””
The video stopped.
A loading symbol appeared.
Everyone waited.
Then another file opened automatically.
May you like
And the name on the screen made my blood run cold.
*Mom.*
