Chapter 13: My Sister Was in the Car That Night
"That's not possible.""
Vanessa's voice was barely audible.
I stared at her.
"Robert says you were in Dad's car.""
She shook her head violently.
"I was ten years old. I don't remember.""
"Vanessa, look at me.""
She covered her mouth.
"I don't remember everything.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"What do you remember?""
She sat down slowly.
For several seconds, she stared at the floor.
Then she whispered, "Dad picked me up from school that afternoon.""
My throat tightened.
"Why?""
"Mom had an appointment. You were at your friend's house, and Dad said he wanted to take me for ice cream.""
I remembered that day.
I had been furious because Dad promised to take me shopping for my birthday dress, but he never came home.
Mom told me there had been an accident.
I was sixteen.
Vanessa had been ten.
"Where did he take you?"" I asked.
"To his office first. He said he needed to collect something.""
"What?""
"A brown briefcase.""
I exchanged a glance with Alexander.
Vanessa continued.
"He was acting strangely. He kept checking the rearview mirror. I asked him what was wrong, and he told me not to worry.""
Her hands began trembling.
"Then I saw a black car behind us.""
"Was it Daniel's?""
"I don't know. I was a child.""
"Did you recognize the driver?""
She shook her head.
Then suddenly, she looked up.
"But I remember the voice.""
"What voice?""
"The man who came to our house afterward.""
My stomach tightened.
"What man?""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"He came to see Mom three days after Dad died. I was upstairs, but I heard him arguing with her.""
"What did he say?""
She closed her eyes.
"He said something about the briefcase. Mom told him she didn't have it.""
Alexander leaned forward.
"Did you hear his name?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Richard.""
Nobody spoke.
She continued.
"Mom told him to leave. Then he said that if she went to the police, both her daughters would suffer.""
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
Vanessa began sobbing.
"Because he told me Dad's accident was my fault.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"He said Dad was distracted because I was crying. He said if I hadn't begged him to stop the car, he might have driven more carefully.""
I moved closer.
"Vanessa, you were ten.""
"I know that now.""
"You were a child.""
She shook her head.
"I believed him for years.""
I looked at Alexander.
He gently placed a hand on my back.
Then Vanessa said something that made my blood run cold.
"Daniel knew.""
I turned.
"What?""
"After we started dating, he told me he knew about the accident. He said Richard had explained everything.""
"Did Daniel ever admit he was there?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Once.""
Her voice cracked.
"He said he had been following Dad because he wanted the briefcase. He said Dad was supposed to hand it over, but he refused.""
Alexander stood.
"Did Daniel say he caused the crash?""
Vanessa looked down.
"No. But he said he had to make sure Dad couldn't reach the police.""
My stomach twisted.
The room became painfully quiet.
Then Jonathan entered.
"Mr. Carter, we've just received confirmation from the investigator. Robert Hayes has agreed to provide a formal statement to law enforcement.""
"Good," Alexander replied.
Jonathan looked at Vanessa.
"There's another development. The police have located the original vehicle registration records. The black SUV was registered to Michael Turner, but the insurance policy was paid through a company connected to Daniel Mitchell.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Where is Daniel now?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Jonathan placed another document on the table.
"There's an outstanding request for information concerning a storage unit rented under Michael Turner's name. The rental payments continued for several years after his death.""
Alexander frowned.
"Where is it?""
"Near the old warehouse district.""
I stood.
"What could be inside?""
Jonathan hesitated.
"We don't know.""
Vanessa suddenly reached for my hand.
"Emily, there's something else I need to tell you.""
I looked at her.
"Tell me.""
"The day before Dad died, he gave me something.""
My breath caught.
"What?""
"A little silver key.""
She opened her handbag and removed a small jewelry pouch.
Inside was a tiny key attached to a faded blue ribbon.
I recognized it.
Dad had tied ribbons around everything he wanted us to remember.
"What does it open?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know. I kept it because he told me it was important.""
I took the key.
My hands trembled.
For twelve years, Vanessa had carried the last thing our father had given her.
And for twelve years, she had never told me.
Alexander examined the key.
Then he looked at Jonathan.
"Find out whether the storage unit has a lock compatible with this.""
Jonathan nodded.
But before he could leave, Vanessa grabbed my arm.
"Emily, please don't hate me.""
I looked at her.
"I don't know what I feel right now.""
She nodded through her tears.
"I deserve that.""
I wanted to tell her that we could start over.
But I couldn't.
Not yet.
Because there was still one question I needed answered.
"Vanessa, did Daniel know you had that key?""
She looked at me.
Then her face went completely white.
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Last week.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"What did he do?""
May you like
She whispered:
"He searched my handbag. And when he couldn't find it, he told me that if I ever gave it to you, he'd make sure neither of us found out what happened to Dad.""
