Chapter 5: The Man in My Wife's Past
I stared at the photograph until the faces blurred.
Rachel was smiling in it, her hand resting on Sophie's infant carrier. Daniel stood beside her, wearing a dark suit and looking directly at the camera.
I had never seen the photograph before.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked.
Detective Harris closed the folder halfway.
"It came from an evidence file connected to an old incident report. The circumstances surrounding your first wife's death were never fully resolved as far as our preliminary review indicates.""
I shook my head.
"Rachel died from complications after an emergency medical crisis. That's what the hospital told me.""
"And you were there?""
"No. I was on a business trip in Charlotte. Rachel called me that afternoon, but I missed it. By the time I called back, she was already in the hospital.""
The memory returned with painful clarity.
I'd been sitting in a conference room when my phone vibrated. Rachel's name appeared on the screen, and I'd silenced it because a client was speaking.
I planned to call her as soon as the meeting ended.
I never got the chance to speak to her again.
"Did you know she had any connection to Daniel?"" Detective Harris asked.
"No.""
"Did Vanessa know your first wife?""
I hesitated.
"She claimed she'd seen photographs of Rachel. She said she was sorry about what happened.""
The detective nodded slowly.
"Did she ever encourage you to stop asking questions about Rachel's death?""
I remembered Vanessa's reaction whenever I mentioned my first wife. She would rub my shoulders, tell me I deserved happiness, and suggest that dwelling on the past was unhealthy.
At the time, I'd considered it kindness.
"Yes," I admitted.
Detective Harris closed the folder.
"We'll need to examine the original case records. For now, I want you to preserve everything you have, including messages, financial records, and security footage.""
I looked back toward the house.
"Someone has my mother.""
"We're treating that seriously. But don't confront Daniel or attempt a rescue on your own. If the photograph is genuine, the people involved may be dangerous.""
I nodded, although every instinct in me screamed to get into my car and search every road outside Atlanta.
When I returned inside, Vanessa was sitting on the couch with her phone pressed to her ear.
She ended the call as soon as she saw me.
"Who were you talking to?"" I asked.
"My attorney.""
"Did you tell him about the photograph?""
She stared at me.
"What photograph?""
"The one of Daniel with Rachel.""
For the first time, Vanessa didn't pretend to misunderstand.
She stood slowly.
"Where did you get that?""
"The police have it.""
She laughed once, without humor.
"Of course your mother would have kept something like that.""
"What did Rachel know about Daniel?""
"Nothing.""
"Then why were they together at the hospital?""
"I don't know!""
Her voice rose, and Sophie appeared at the top of the stairs.
Vanessa immediately changed her expression.
"Sweetheart, go back to your room.""
Sophie didn't move.
I stepped between them.
"Don't speak to her.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"You can't keep turning her against me.""
"She watched you hit her.""
"Because she was disobedient!""
Sophie flinched.
I felt something cold settle inside me.
"Vanessa, stop talking.""
She pointed at me.
"You have no idea what that child has done to me. Everything was fine before you started treating her like she could do no wrong.""
I looked at the little girl standing on the stairs.
She was holding the wooden rabbit Rachel had bought her when she was two.
"Go to the neighbor's house, sweetheart," I said gently.
"Stay with Mrs. Carter until I come get you.""
Sophie hurried down and wrapped her arms around my waist.
"Are you coming, too?""
"In a minute.""
She studied my face.
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
After she left, I turned back to Vanessa.
"Tell me what happened to Rachel.""
Vanessa walked to the window.
For several seconds, she watched our neighbor's car pull away.
Then she spoke so quietly I almost didn't hear her.
"Rachel wasn't the person you thought she was.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
"She was involved with Daniel before you met her.""
"No.""
"Yes.""
"Rachel barely knew him.""
Vanessa turned around.
"She knew him well enough to keep secrets from you.""
My hands curled into fists.
"You're lying.""
"Ask your mother. That's why she came here with that folder.""
I remembered the recording.
Tell him what really happened to Sophie's mother.
"What did Rachel discover?"" I asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
"You wouldn't understand.""
"Try me.""
She walked toward the fireplace and pulled a small envelope from behind a framed photograph. I had never noticed it there.
She held it out to me.
Inside was a hospital bracelet bearing Rachel's name and a folded piece of paper.
My fingers went numb as I opened it.
The paper contained a handwritten message.
If anything happens to me, Michael needs to know that Daniel is not the only person responsible.
Beneath it was a second sentence.
The person he trusts most is the one who can tell him why.
I looked up.
Vanessa was watching me.
"Who wrote this?""
She didn't answer.
"Who wrote it, Vanessa?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Rachel gave it to me.""
I could barely speak.
"You knew her?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Before I met you.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she made me promise.""
"Promise what?""
Vanessa's mouth trembled.
"That I'd protect Sophie if she couldn't.""
I took a step backward.
"You promised to protect my daughter, then starved her.""
"I did protect her!""
"From what?""
Vanessa looked toward the front door.
Then she whispered, "From Daniel.""
I stared at her, trying to reconcile those words with the footage of Daniel grabbing my mother while Vanessa locked the garage.
"You were working with him.""
"I had no choice.""
"Everyone has a choice.""
She suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Listen to me! Daniel isn't the man you should be afraid of.""
I pulled free.
"Then who?""
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the stairs, then back to me.
Before she could answer, my phone rang.
It was Detective Harris.
"Mr. Bennett, we've identified the vehicle in your footage. It was registered to Daniel's company, but the plate was cloned.""
My stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?""
"It means he may have deliberately concealed where he was going afterward.""
"Have you found my mother?""
There was a pause.
"Not yet. But we found something else.""
"What?""
"A vehicle matching the description of the SUV was captured on a traffic camera outside an abandoned medical facility north of Atlanta.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She had begun to cry silently.
Detective Harris continued.
"Mr. Bennett, there's one more thing. The facility was connected to the hospital where your first wife died.""
The call ended.
I stood motionless, holding Rachel's note.
Then Vanessa said something that changed the meaning of every word I'd just heard.
"Michael, Daniel didn't come to our house for your mother.""
I turned toward her.
"Then why did he come?""
May you like
She looked straight into my eyes.
"Because he believes Sophie belongs to him.""
