Chapter 10: The Report That Disappeared
I read Daniel's message three times before calling him.
He answered immediately.
“Lucas, are you alone?””
“No. I'm at Rachel's house.””
“Is Lily there?””
“Yes. Why?””
“Keep her inside. Lock the doors. Don't let Michael near her.””
I stared through the window at my daughter, who was sitting beside her aunt with her stuffed rabbit in her lap.
“You don't get to give me instructions anymore,” I said.
“You've lied to me for two years.””
“I know.””
“You hid Emily's recording. You knew she was investigating my brother. And now you're telling me Michael was there when she died.””
Daniel exhaled shakily.
“There's something in the original police report that never made it into the final version.””
“What?””
“Evidence of a second vehicle.””
My stomach tightened.
“Vanessa told me about the SUV.””
“Then she finally admitted it.””
“You knew about the SUV?””
“I saw it in the first report. The responding officer documented tire tracks that didn't match Emily's vehicle. There was also a witness who reported seeing another car leave the scene.””
“Who was the witness?””
“I don't know. The name was redacted in the copy I saw.””
“Where is the report now?””
“I have a copy.””
“Why?””
“Because I obtained it when Emily's case was still under review. I was going to give it to you, but Michael convinced me that reopening the investigation would destroy your company.””
I closed my eyes.
“Stop using my company as an excuse.””
“I deserve that.””
“Where are you?””
“At the office.””
“Stay there. I'm coming.””
“Lucas, listen to me. Don't come alone.””
I ended the call without answering.
Rachel appeared in the doorway.
“You're leaving?””
“I need to speak with Daniel.””
“Lucas, please tell me you're not going to confront Michael.””
“I'm not.””
She glanced toward the stairs.
“What about Lily?””
“You keep her here. Don't answer the door for anyone you aren't expecting. If Michael calls, don't tell him where we are.””
Rachel nodded, but her eyes were full of fear.
“Lucas, what if one of them really did hurt Emily?””
I looked at her.
“Then I'm going to find out which one.””
Before leaving, I knelt beside Lily.
“Daddy has to take care of something, sweetheart. Aunt Rachel is going to stay with you.””
“Are you going to find out what happened to Mommy?””
I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
“Yes.””
“Will you tell me the truth?””
The question nearly broke me.
“I promise I won't hide the truth from you.””
She hugged me tightly.
I held her for a few seconds longer than usual, then left.
Daniel's office was on the third floor of an aging commercial building near downtown Nashville. The lights were on when I arrived, but the parking lot was nearly empty.
He opened the door before I knocked.
His tie hung loose around his neck, and his shirt was wrinkled. A stack of folders covered his desk. Beside them sat a sealed envelope bearing my name.
“Thank you for coming,” he said.
“Show me the report.””
Daniel handed me a photocopy.
The first page was ordinary enough: the date, the location, the weather conditions, and the responding officers' names.
Then I reached the supplementary notes.
At 8:47 p.m., a witness had reported seeing a dark SUV leaving the area at high speed.
At 8:49 p.m., another caller reported a damaged vehicle near the roadside.
At 8:51 p.m., the emergency call about Emily's crash had been logged.
I read the times again.
“Michael's photograph was taken at 8:43.””
Daniel nodded.
“He was there before the first recorded emergency call.””
“Unless someone called earlier and the record is missing.””
“Exactly.””
I turned the page.
A note near the bottom mentioned an initial inspection of Emily's vehicle. The brakes had been examined, but the report stated that the damage was consistent with impact and could not conclusively establish a mechanical failure.
“Where's the witness statement?”” I asked.
“Missing from the final file.””
“Missing?””
“It's referenced here, but the statement itself isn't attached.””
I looked up.
“Who removed it?””
“I don't know.””
I wanted to believe him. I hated that I still wanted to believe him.
“Why did you keep this from me?””
Daniel sat down heavily.
“Because Michael came to see me three days after the funeral. He told me Emily had been investigating the company, and he knew I had the recording. He said if I gave it to the police, he'd make sure everyone believed I had helped her steal from you.””
“Did you?””
“No.””
“Did you help her investigate?””
“Yes.””
“Then why be afraid?””
“Because I had made mistakes, Lucas. I knew about the suspicious accounts, and I delayed telling you. I was afraid that would make me look guilty.””
I set the report down.
“You let me bury my wife without telling me that her death might have been connected to a crime.””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
“And you let me believe I was safe with my own brother.””
“I thought I could keep you out of it.””
“You don't get to decide what truth I can survive.””
He bowed his head.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I noticed a second document beneath the report.
It was a printed email dated two days after Emily's death.
The sender was Michael.
The recipient was Daniel.
The subject line read: *THE GIRL MUST NEVER REMEMBER.*
My fingers went numb.
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this?””
He reached for the page, then stopped himself.
“I found it in an archived company mailbox last night.””
I read the email.
You told me the child was asleep. Make sure she stays that way. If she remembers anything about that night, we have a serious problem.
There was no explanation. No context. Just those words.
I felt the room tilt.
“What did Lily witness?””
Daniel's face crumpled.
“I don't know.””
I stared at him.
“Then why did you tell me to keep her away from Michael?””
“Because I found something else.””
He opened a drawer and removed a small notebook. Several pages had been torn out, but one entry remained intact.
Emily's handwriting filled the page.
If Lucas ever finds this, tell him to ask Lily about the red truck.
I read the sentence twice.
“The red truck?””
Daniel nodded.
“I think Emily wrote this shortly before she died.””
My phone began vibrating.
Rachel.
I answered immediately.
“What's wrong?””
Her voice was frantic.
“Lucas, Michael is here.””
My blood turned to ice.
“Where is Lily?””
“Upstairs. I locked the bedroom door, but Michael says he only wants to talk.””
“Don't let him inside!””
“He's already in the house!””
I heard a crash through the phone, followed by Rachel shouting.
Then Lily screamed.
May you like
“Daddy! The red truck!””
The call went dead.
