Chapter 10: The Night I Couldn't Remember
For several seconds, I couldn't look at my sister.
Emily stood beside me, one hand resting protectively on Lily's shoulder, while the words on my phone seemed to burn into my eyes.
You were there that night.
“I don't understand,” I whispered.
Emily's face had gone pale.
“James, three years ago, you told me you were working late when I disappeared.””
“I was.””
“You said you didn't come home until after midnight.””
“I did.””
She shook her head slowly.
“No. You came to our house that evening. I saw your car outside.””
I stared at her.
“That isn't possible.””
“I remember because you brought Lily a stuffed rabbit. She was crying, and you sat beside her until she fell asleep.””
A strange pressure built behind my eyes.
I remembered the rabbit.
A small gray bunny with one floppy ear. I'd bought it at a gas station because Lily had been upset when Ryan canceled a trip to the zoo.
But everything after that was a blur.
“I remember leaving,” I said.
“I remember driving home.””
“Do you remember speaking to Ryan?””
“No.””
Emily glanced toward the conference room where the officers had taken him.
“Because he told me you were coming to help me.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“That night, Ryan said you had agreed to take me somewhere safe. He told me you were going to drive me out of Texas while he dealt with some business problems.””
I shook my head.
“I never agreed to that.””
“I know that now.””
She lowered her voice.
“But back then, I believed him. You were my brother. If you'd offered to help, I would have trusted you without question.””
Lily tugged at her mother's sleeve.
“Mommy, why is Uncle James sad?””
Emily crouched beside her.
“Sometimes grown-ups discover things they didn't know about their past.””
“Did Uncle James do something bad?””
Emily looked at me before answering.
“I don't know yet, sweetheart.””
Those words hurt more than an accusation.
I had spent three years searching for Emily. I'd called hospitals, hired investigators, and confronted Ryan so many times that he eventually threatened to have me arrested for harassment.
I'd done everything I could think of to find her.
But what if I'd helped him lose her in the first place?
My phone vibrated again.
A new message appeared from the unknown sender.
Check the traffic camera records from October 14. Your car was seen leaving Ryan's neighborhood at 10:43 p.m.
I showed Emily.
She covered her mouth.
“That was the night.””
I immediately called the number attached to the email, but the call went straight to voicemail.
“Whoever sent this knows something,” I said.
Emily nodded.
“Then we need to find out who.””
Before I could answer, Officer Bennett returned with her partner.
“We need to speak with you, Mr. Mitchell.””
“About what?””
She held up a small evidence bag containing a silver USB drive.
“Mr. Ryan Mitchell says this belongs to you. He claims it contains recordings that prove you helped arrange your sister's disappearance.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“That's impossible.””
“Do you recognize it?””
I stared at the drive.
I did.
It had been attached to my key ring for years. I used it to back up old family photographs and documents.
I'd lost it sometime after Emily disappeared.
“I haven't seen that in three years,” I said.
Officer Bennett studied me.
“Mr. Mitchell says you gave it to him voluntarily.””
“He's lying.””
“Then we need to establish what is on it.””
She placed the drive back inside the evidence bag.
“Before we do that, I need to ask you something. Did you visit your sister's home on the night she disappeared?””
I looked at Emily.
“Yes. Earlier that evening.””
“Did you leave with her?””
“No.””
“Did you speak with Ryan that night?””
“I don't remember.””
The officer's expression became more serious.
“You don't remember?””
“I remember visiting. I remember bringing Lily a toy. After that, I remember driving home. But there are parts of that evening I can't account for.””
Officer Bennett exchanged a glance with her partner.
“Mr. Mitchell, I need you to understand that your answers may become important to this investigation.””
“I understand.””
She paused.
“Did you consume alcohol that night?””
“No.””
“Were you taking any medication?””
“No.””
“Did you have any reason to believe Ryan might harm your sister?””
I thought about the arguments I'd witnessed, the controlling behavior, the way Ryan had isolated Emily from our family.
“Yes,” I admitted.
“I knew their marriage was in trouble. I knew he could be intimidating. But I never imagined he'd do something like this.””
Officer Bennett nodded and made a note.
“We'll need a formal statement from you. For now, please don't delete any messages or contact anyone about the evidence.””
After she left, I sat down heavily.
Emily settled beside me.
“James, look at me.””
I raised my head.
“I don't believe you helped him intentionally,” she said.
“But I need to know what happened.””
“So do I.””
She took my hand.
“Then we'll find out together.””
For the first time since she'd returned, I felt the smallest thread of hope.
Then the conference room door opened.
Ryan emerged between the officers, his expression composed once again.
He looked directly at me.
“You see?”” he said softly.
“You weren't the hero in this story, James.””
I stood.
“What did you do to me that night?””
Ryan smiled.
“Nothing you didn't agree to.””
Then he leaned closer, careful to keep his voice low enough that the officers couldn't hear.
“Ask yourself why you can't remember the last hour you spent in my house.””
He straightened and walked away.
And suddenly, I remembered something.
A glass of whiskey on Ryan's kitchen counter.
A bitter taste.
May you like
And a voice whispering in the darkness.
Just sign the paper, James. Then everything will be fine.
