Chapter 3: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I stared at the photograph until the letters blurred.
Danielle was alive.
At least, someone had wanted me to believe she was.
The hospital room suddenly felt too small.
I looked at Lily.
"Sweetheart, where exactly did you find this?""
"In Mommy Vanessa's bedroom.""
"When?""
"Last week. I was looking for my teddy bear.""
I carefully folded the photograph.
"Did Vanessa see you take it?""
Lily shook her head.
"She was talking on the phone.""
I swallowed.
"What did she say?""
Lily looked toward the door.
"She said Mommy Danielle couldn't come home yet.""
My chest tightened.
I sat down beside her bed.
"Did you hear anything else?""
"She said Daddy would be angry if he found out.""
I closed my eyes.
For three years, I had visited Danielle's grave every anniversary of her death.
I had kept her wedding ring in a wooden box.
I had told Lily stories about her mother, believing she would never have the chance to meet her again.
And now my five-year-old daughter was telling me that the woman I had mourned might still be alive.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Officer Harris appeared.
We need you to return home when possible. We found something during the initial investigation.
I called her immediately.
"What did you find?""
"Mr. Michael, we located a locked cabinet in your wife's bedroom. There are several documents inside that may be relevant.""
"What kind of documents?""
"A hospital discharge summary, financial paperwork, and a photograph of a woman who appears to be your former wife.""
My grip tightened.
"Danielle?""
There was a pause.
"That's what we believe.""
I looked at Lily.
"I'll be there as soon as I can.""
Before leaving the hospital, I arranged for my sister, Rachel, to stay with Lily.
Rachel arrived within twenty minutes.
When she saw her niece lying in the hospital bed, she covered her mouth.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
Lily reached for her.
"Aunt Rachel, can you bring me a sandwich?""
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
"Of course, baby. I'll bring you anything you want.""
I kissed Lily's forehead.
"Daddy needs to find out what happened. I'll be back.""
She held my hand.
"Don't let Mommy Vanessa come here.""
"I won't.""
Rachel squeezed my shoulder.
"Go. I'll take care of her.""
When I returned home, two officers were standing outside.
Vanessa was sitting on the living room sofa.
Her arms were crossed, and her eyes were red.
She immediately stood up.
"Michael, finally.""
I ignored her and approached Officer Harris.
"What did you find?""
She handed me a transparent evidence folder.
Inside were several documents.
The first was a bank statement showing regular transfers to an account belonging to Dr. Richard Collins.
The payments had started three years earlier.
The second document was a hospital record.
It contained Danielle's name.
But the date was wrong.
According to the record, Danielle had been admitted to a private medical facility two days after the accident.
Not a morgue.
Not a funeral home.
A private rehabilitation center.
"Why was this hidden?"" I asked.
Officer Harris shook her head.
"We're still investigating.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Explain this.""
She looked at the papers.
Then she looked at me.
"Michael, please. We can talk privately.""
"No. You can talk here.""
She lowered her voice.
"Danielle wasn't the woman you remember.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
"She had problems. Serious problems. You never knew the truth about your marriage.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You told me she was dead.""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"I was trying to protect you.""
"From what? My own wife?""
She looked away.
Officer Harris stepped forward.
"Mrs. Vanessa, we need you to answer some questions about these financial transfers.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know anything about those payments.""
I held up the statement.
"Your name is on the account.""
She stared at it.
For a moment, I thought she might finally tell the truth.
Instead, she looked toward the staircase.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Michael, you need to understand something. Danielle didn't disappear because of the accident.""
"Then why did she disappear?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"Because she wanted you to believe she was dead.""
"Why?""
"Because she was afraid of someone.""
"Who?""
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"Your business partner.""
I felt the room tilt.
My business partner, Jonathan Reed, had been my closest friend since college. He had attended Danielle's funeral, helped me manage the company, and supported me through every difficult moment.
He was also the man who had recommended Dr. Collins.
"You're lying," I whispered.
Vanessa shook her head.
"Ask Jonathan about the money he transferred before the accident.""
Officer Harris immediately exchanged a look with her colleague.
"Mrs. Vanessa, are you alleging that Mr. Reed was involved in your former husband's wife's disappearance?""
Vanessa nodded.
But something about her expression bothered me.
She wasn't simply afraid.
She looked as though she was calculating how much she could reveal without destroying herself.
I stepped closer.
"Why did you marry me, Vanessa?""
She looked down.
"Because I loved you.""
"Then why did you starve my daughter?""
She didn't answer.
"Why did you lock her in the laundry room?""
Silence.
"Why did you make those payments to the doctor?""
Vanessa finally whispered, "Because I was supposed to keep Danielle away from you.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Who paid you?""
She opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, her phone rang.
The screen displayed a name.
*DR. RICHARD COLLINS.*
Officer Harris told her not to answer.
But Vanessa stared at the phone as though it were a ticking bomb.
Then a message appeared.
She glanced at it.
Her face went completely white.
I reached for the phone.
"What does it say?""
Vanessa tried to pull it away, but Officer Harris stopped her.
I read the message.
The girl has said too much. Bring Michael to the old clinic tonight. If Danielle gets there first, we all go to prison.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Where is Danielle?""
She began shaking.
Then she whispered four words.
"She's coming for Lily.""
My phone rang.
It was Rachel.
I answered immediately.
"Rachel? Is Lily okay?""
Her voice was frantic.
"Michael, listen to me. Someone just came into Lily's hospital room.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who?""
Rachel began crying.
"She says she's Danielle.""
And then, in the background, I heard a familiar voice.
A woman's voice.
May you like
The voice I had spent three years believing I would never hear again.
"Michael, please. Don't let them take our daughter.""
