Chapter 11: The First Husband
Dad said nothing.
Melissa's breathing filled the speaker.
“You wrote a plan to kill me?””
“No!””
“Then explain what I just read.””
“It wasn't a plan.””
“It says rain forecast. Best.””
“I know how it looks.””
“How exactly should it look?””
Melissa started crying harder.
“I was collecting evidence.””
Dad's anger faltered.
“Evidence of what?””
“Marcus.””
“Why would you create a document under his administrator account?””
“Because I was using his computer.””
Tyler moved closer to the phone.
“Mom?””
Melissa stopped breathing for a second.
“Tyler?””
“Is Marcus my father?””
Silence.
“Mom.””
“Yes.””
Tyler shut his eyes.
“Why did you tell me he was dead?””
“Because I wanted him dead to you.””
“That's not an answer.””
“He's dangerous.””
“Then why are you with him?””
“I didn't have a choice.””
Dad interrupted.
“Where are you?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Melissa, police are here.””
“I know.””
Dad looked toward the window.
“How?””
“Marcus is watching the house cameras.””
Dad's head snapped up.
“What cameras?””
“The doorbell. The garage. The one over the driveway.””
Dad looked at the officer.
The officer immediately started writing.
Melissa continued.
“He got access months ago.””
“How?””
“I gave it to him.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“Of course you did.””
“I was trying to keep him calm.””
“By giving him access to my home?””
“You don't know him.””
“No. Apparently my wife forgot to mention him.””
Tyler's face crumpled.
“Did he kill Andrew?””
Melissa went silent.
That silence was worse than an answer.
“Mom?””
“I don't know.””
“Was Andrew really in a car accident?””
“Yes.””
“Then why is Marcus involved?””
Melissa whispered, “Because Andrew found out.””
“Found out what?””
“That Tyler wasn't his.””
Tyler turned away.
Dad asked, “Andrew knew Marcus was the father?””
“Two weeks before he died.””
The photograph.
Dad understood.
“That picture was from the confrontation.””
“Yes.””
Melissa's voice trembled.
“Andrew had suspected for years. He found letters. Bank transfers. He confronted me.””
“What happened?””
“He wanted a divorce.””
Tyler whispered, “And then he died.””
Melissa began sobbing.
“I didn't hurt him.””
Nobody accused her.
That somehow made her cry harder.
Dad lowered his voice.
“Tell me about the crash.””
“Andrew left work late. It was raining. His brakes failed.””
The room went still.
Dad glanced at the Accident Timeline on the laptop.
*Rain forecast.*
*Vehicle maintenance overdue.*
His face hardened.
“Did police investigate the brakes?””
“They said the lines were badly corroded.””
“Corroded or cut?””
“They couldn't prove anything.””
“Where was Marcus?””
“I don't know.””
Dad looked toward the officer.
The officer quietly stepped away and made another call.
Melissa continued.
“After Andrew died, Marcus came back into my life. He said he'd help with Tyler.””
“The settlement,” Dad said.
“Yes.””
“What was it?””
“Andrew had a life insurance policy. Some money went to me. Some was placed in trust for Tyler.””
“And you spent Tyler's share.””
“I started taking from it when Marcus demanded money.””
“Why was Marcus demanding anything?””
“He said Andrew's death could be reopened.””
Dad frowned.
“Why would that scare you if you weren't involved?””
Melissa didn't answer.
“Melissa.””
“Because I lied to police.””
Tyler turned around.
“About what?””
“I told them Marcus hadn't contacted me in years.””
“But he had,” Dad said.
“Yes.””
“How recently?””
“The night Andrew died.””
Tyler whispered, “Oh my God.””
Dad's voice became colder.
“What did Marcus say?””
“He called me around eleven.””
“And?””
“He said, ‘It's finished.’”
The kitchen seemed to shrink.
Dad stared at the phone.
“You never told police.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I was terrified.””
“Or because you knew what he meant.””
“I didn't!””
“Then why hide it?””
“Because Tyler was three years old! Because Marcus was his biological father! Because Andrew had just discovered everything! How do you think that would've looked?””
“Like evidence.””
Melissa stopped talking.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
Then asked, “Why is there an Accident Timeline about me?””
“Marcus started making comments.””
“What comments?””
“He knew your commute. Your schedule. When you drove alone.””
“So you wrote everything down.””
“I documented every detail he mentioned.””
“Why not go to police?””
“He had the forged documents. The settlement records. Everything I'd done.””
Dad laughed bitterly.
“You were protecting yourself.””
“At first.””
“At first?””
Her voice softened.
“Then I realized he wasn't just threatening me.””
Dad's eyes narrowed.
“He was preparing.””
“For what?””
“To make history repeat itself.””
A noise sounded on Melissa's end.
A door opening.
She gasped.
“Daniel, I have to go.””
“Wait.””
“If anything happens, check Andrew's case file.””
“Melissa—”
“There was a mechanic.””
“What mechanic?””
“He tried to contact me after the funeral.””
“Name?””
Melissa whispered it quickly.
“Raymond Cole.””
I looked at Dad.
Cole.
Evan Cole.
Dad's expression changed at exactly the same moment.
“Melissa, did you say Raymond Cole?””
The call disconnected.
Dad immediately called Evan.
He answered.
“What's wrong?””
Dad didn't waste time.
“Do you know Raymond Cole?””
May you like
There was a long silence.
Then Evan said, “Why are you asking about my father?””
