Chapter 2: The Person Behind the Message
“That's impossible.””
Danielle's voice was barely audible.
Officer Brooks turned the tablet toward her again.
“Mrs. Williams, do you recognize this number?””
She stared at the screen.
Her lips trembled.
Then she slowly shook her head.
“No. That's not possible.””
“Can you identify the sender?””
Danielle looked at me.
For the first time since I had walked through the door, her anger seemed to disappear.
Something much worse had replaced it.
Fear.
“Marcus,” she whispered, “this number belongs to your mother.””
I felt as though someone had punched me.
My mother?
Patricia Williams?
The woman who baked Lily cookies every Wednesday? The woman who called her granddaughter her little angel? The woman who had spent almost every weekend at our house since Lily was born?
“No,” I said.
Danielle's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm looking at her number.””
“My mother wouldn't do that.””
“Then explain it!””
Officer Brooks raised a hand.
“Let's not jump to conclusions. We need to verify the sender and understand the circumstances.””
I took the tablet.
The photograph showed Lily's medication bottle on our kitchen counter.
The label was clearly visible.
Her name.
Her doctor's information.
The prescription date.
And beneath the photograph was the message.
MAKE SURE MARCUS DOESN'T COME HOME.
The timestamp was Thursday evening.
Three days before Lily died.
“Why would my mother send Vanessa a photograph of Lily's medication?”” I asked.
Danielle lowered herself onto the couch.
“Because Patricia was here Thursday.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
“She came over after school. She said she wanted to spend time with Lily.””
“That's normal.””
“No, Marcus. It isn't.””
Danielle wiped her cheeks.
“Lily was sick. She'd been coughing for days. I was worried, so I took her to the doctor. Patricia saw the medication on the counter and started asking questions.””
“What kind of questions?””
“She wanted to know how serious Lily's condition was. She asked whether the medicine would make her sleepy. She asked how often I needed to give it to her.””
My chest tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Danielle looked at me with an expression I would never forget.
“Because you didn't answer your phone.””
I lowered my eyes.
Officer Brooks asked for my mother's number.
“I'd like to speak with her.””
I nodded.
“Call her.””
He dialed.
The phone rang several times before a familiar voice answered.
“Hello?””
“Mrs. Patricia Williams?””
“Yes. Who is this?””
“Officer Brooks with the police department. I'd like to ask you some questions regarding your granddaughter, Lily.””
A pause.
“Oh, God. Is Marcus home? Is Danielle okay?””
“Ma'am, were you in contact with Vanessa Cole recently?””
Silence.
Then my mother laughed softly.
“Vanessa? I don't know anyone by that name.””
I stepped forward.
“Mom, it's me.””
Her voice immediately changed.
“Marcus! Oh, sweetheart. Where have you been? I've been so worried.””
“Did you send Vanessa a photograph of Lily's medication?””
Another pause.
“Why would I do that?””
“Because your number is attached to a message telling her to make sure I didn't come home.””
My mother inhaled sharply.
“Marcus, listen to me. I can explain.””
Danielle stood.
“Explain what? Why did you tell someone to keep my husband away while our daughter was sick?””
My mother ignored her.
“Marcus, your wife is upset. She's always been dramatic.””
Danielle grabbed the phone.
“Don't you dare call me dramatic!””
“Danielle, please,” Patricia replied coldly.
“This isn't the time.””
“MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD!””
There was a long silence.
Then my mother said something that made my blood turn cold.
“Lily was always very sensitive. She needed to learn not to depend on people so much.””
I stared at the phone.
“What did you just say?””
“Marcus, I know you're grieving. But children need boundaries.””
“She's eight years old!””
“And she was constantly demanding your attention.””
Danielle made a strangled sound.
Officer Brooks took the phone from her.
“Mrs. Williams, I need you to come to the station for an interview.””
“I haven't done anything wrong.””
“Then you should have no problem answering our questions.””
She hung up.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Danielle walked toward the staircase.
“Where are you going?”” I asked.
“To Lily's room.””
I followed her.
Her bedroom door was open.
A pink blanket lay folded at the foot of the bed. A stuffed rabbit sat against her pillow. Her school backpack was still hanging from the little hook beside the wardrobe.
On her desk sat a drawing.
Three people holding hands beneath a yellow sun.
Mommy.
Lily.
Daddy.
But someone had drawn a thick black line through my figure.
I picked it up.
“Did she draw this?””
Danielle nodded.
“Last week.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“She told me she didn't want to show you.””
I looked at the picture again.
“What happened?””
Danielle sat on Lily's bed.
“Your mother had been telling her things.””
My stomach tightened.
“What things?””
“She told Lily you were tired of being a father. She told her you wanted a different family. She said you stayed away because Lily was too difficult.””
I shook my head.
“That's insane.””
“Is it?””
Danielle reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a small notebook.
It was Lily's diary.
Pink cover. Purple stars.
“She started writing things down,” Danielle whispered.
I opened it.
The handwriting was uneven, with some letters written backward.
One entry was dated two weeks earlier.
Grandma says Daddy doesn't come home because I make him tired.
Another entry:
I asked Daddy if he still loves me, but Grandma said not to bother him.
My fingers began to tremble.
The final entry was written in blue crayon.
I think Daddy doesn't want me anymore. I will be good so he comes back.
I sat on the floor.
My daughter had been trying to become a better child because she believed I had stopped loving her.
And I had been too busy enjoying another woman's company to notice.
Danielle stood beside the window.
“She asked me something the night before she went to the hospital.””
“What?””
“She asked whether she could call you one last time.””
I looked up.
Danielle was crying again.
“I told her yes. Of course, I told her yes. But she said Grandma had warned her that you would get angry.””
I pressed the diary against my chest.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought you were ignoring us. I thought you knew she was sick and simply didn't care.””
I had no defense.
Not one.
Then Officer Brooks appeared in the doorway.
“Mr. Williams, we've located your mother.””
“Where?””
“She came to the station voluntarily.””
I stood.
“Did she admit sending the message?””
He hesitated.
“She admitted contacting Vanessa Cole. But she claims she was trying to prevent a family crisis.””
“What does that mean?””
Officer Brooks glanced at Danielle.
“She also says there's something you should know about Lily's medical history.””
Danielle frowned.
“What medical history?””
The officer opened his tablet.
“According to your mother's statement, she had been receiving information about Lily's treatment from someone at the hospital.””
I felt my stomach twist.
“Who?””
May you like
Officer Brooks looked directly at us.
“That's what we're trying to establish. Because the person she named was not a family member.””
