Chapter 9: Emily's Last Conversation
Nobody wanted to press play.
That was the truth.
Because sometimes the unknown is easier to live with than the answer.
But we had already crossed that line.
There was no going back.
I inserted the recording.
For a few seconds, there was only static.
Then Emily's voice filled the room.
"Hello?""
My heart stopped.
It was her.
Alive.
Afraid.
The recording continued.
A man's voice answered.
"Emily, you need to stop asking questions.""
I looked at Daniel.
He recognized the voice.
"Robert.""
Emily sounded nervous.
"I know what you did.""
The man's voice became colder.
"You don't know anything.""
"I know you moved money from Nia's account.""
Silence.
Then Robert laughed.
"You think anyone will believe you?""
Emily breathed heavily.
"I have proof.""
My hands tightened.
The recording continued.
"You don't understand what you're dealing with.""
Emily's voice shook.
"No. You don't understand who you're hurting.""
A noise came from the background.
A door opening.
Then another voice.
A woman's voice.
Vanessa.
Nia covered her mouth.
"No...""
I stared at Vanessa.
She looked like she wanted to disappear.
The recording continued.
"You promised me you would fix this.""
Vanessa's voice.
"I tried.""
"You failed.""
Emily spoke again.
"Vanessa?""
There was fear in Emily's voice.
"What are you doing here?""
Vanessa answered quietly.
"I didn't want it to happen this way.""
My blood ran cold.
The recording cut for several seconds.
Then Emily spoke.
"Marcus will find out.""
Robert replied:
"Not if you stop him.""
I stood up.
The room spun.
"No.""
Nia started crying.
"Dad...""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying too.
But I couldn't tell if it was regret or fear.
The recording continued.
Emily whispered:
"If anything happens to me, Marcus needs to know.""
A crash.
Someone shouted.
Then the audio became distorted.
The final words Emily said were barely audible.
"Protect Nia...""
Then silence.
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Not for a long time.
Finally, Daniel turned toward Vanessa.
"You were there.""
Vanessa shook her head violently.
"No.""
"You were there when Emily died.""
"No!""
Her scream echoed.
"I went there to stop him!""
I stared.
"Stop who?""
She covered her face.
"I didn't know what he would do.""
"Who?""
She looked at me.
And whispered the name.
"Robert.""
The room went silent.
Then my phone buzzed again.
A new message.
This time, it wasn't from an unknown number.
It was from Robert.
There was a photo attached.
A photo of a hospital hallway.
And a message underneath.
*Ask Vanessa why she was the last person Emily trusted before she died.*
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked back at me.
And for the first time...
May you like
I didn't know if she was my enemy.
Or the only person who knew the full truth.
