Chapter 9: The House That Wasn't Safe
I stared at the maintenance authorization.
The document listed Andrew Price as a contractor hired to inspect the electrical system at my home. The work had supposedly been completed while I was in Chicago.
My electronic signature appeared at the bottom.
Once again, someone had used my name without my permission.
"Can you verify whether this document is authentic?"" I asked Detective Brooks.
"We'll investigate the authorization and contact the contractor's employer. For now, assume the record may be fraudulent.""
I thought about Sophie's bedroom, Emily's jewelry box, and the locked cabinet in my study.
If Andrew had entered my house, he might have had access to all three.
"Could he have planted something there?"" I asked.
"It's possible. We won't know until the property is examined.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Michael.
He was standing just outside the room with another officer, waiting to be taken to his apartment to retrieve the evidence.
Daniel, I need to tell you something before the police find it.
I looked up at him through the glass partition.
He motioned for me to come closer.
Detective Brooks watched as I approached.
"What is it?"" I asked.
Michael rubbed his face.
"When I went to your house that night, Vanessa told me to look for an envelope in your study. She said you'd asked her to prepare some paperwork for the wedding.""
"You said you took an envelope from my desk.""
"I did. But there were two envelopes. I took the one she pointed to, and I saw the other one underneath it.""
"What was in it?""
"I didn't open it. I thought it was private.""
"Then why are you telling me now?""
"Because I saw the label.""
He swallowed.
"It said, 'Emily's Medical Records—Original Copies.''"
My stomach dropped.
"That envelope was supposed to be in the locked cabinet.""
"I know.""
"Did Vanessa take it?""
"I don't know. But when I returned to your study the next morning, the cabinet door was open.""
I gripped the edge of the partition.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought you'd put it there yourself. I didn't want to accuse Vanessa of anything without proof.""
"Michael, you've spent three years watching me blame myself for Emily's death while you kept pieces of the truth from me.""
"I know.""
"Do you?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"I was afraid, Daniel. I thought if I stayed quiet, the whole thing would disappear. I thought I could protect you and Sophie without making everything worse.""
I looked at him for a long moment.
"That's what Vanessa said she was doing.""
Michael lowered his head.
The comparison hurt him. I could see it.
But I didn't take it back.
Detective Brooks intervened.
"We need to focus on the immediate risk. Mr. Carter, is there anyone else who has access to your home?""
I thought carefully.
"Our housekeeper has a key. My neighbor has a spare for emergencies. Michael used to have one, but I asked for it back after Emily died.""
"Anyone else?""
I hesitated.
Then I remembered Vanessa standing in my kitchen three weeks earlier, telling me she had misplaced her purse.
She'd asked to borrow my laptop to check whether she'd left it in the hotel where we'd had dinner.
I'd handed it to her without thinking.
"She knew my laptop password," I said.
"Does that password give access to your electronic signature?""
"It might.""
Detective Brooks wrote it down.
"We'll need to review the relevant account activity. In the meantime, you and Sophie should remain somewhere secure.""
I glanced toward the seating area.
Sophie was drawing again, her little shoulders hunched over the paper.
I couldn't bear the thought of her spending another night wondering whether the adults around her were dangerous.
I walked over and sat beside her.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She looked up.
"Are we going home?""
"Not quite yet.""
"Because of Vanessa?""
I nodded.
She looked down at her drawing.
"She said our house belonged to her after the wedding.""
I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
"What?""
"She told me I would have to sleep in the little room upstairs because she wanted my bedroom for her office.""
I stared at her.
Vanessa had never mentioned changing Sophie's room.
"Did she say when?""
"After the honeymoon.""
I looked at Detective Brooks.
The honeymoon again.
Everything seemed to lead back to those few days away from home, the canceled return flight, and the insurance policy.
I crouched in front of Sophie.
"Did Vanessa tell you anything else about the trip?""
Sophie nodded slowly.
"She said Daddy was going to take a special medicine because he gets headaches when he travels.""
My blood ran cold.
"What medicine?""
"I don't know. She showed me a little bottle and told me not to touch it.""
"Where was the bottle?""
"In her bathroom bag.""
I kept my voice calm.
"Did you see her put anything inside it?""
Sophie shook her head.
"No. But she told me that if you got sleepy on the plane, I should be quiet and let you rest.""
I hugged her.
"You did the right thing telling me.""
She rested her cheek against my shoulder.
"Are we still going on the honeymoon?""
"No, sweetheart. There won't be a honeymoon.""
"Good.""
I pulled back slightly.
"Why is that good?""
She looked at me with an expression far too serious for a six-year-old.
"Because Vanessa said you wouldn't come home.""
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Then Sophie reached into her pocket and took out a folded piece of paper.
"I found this in her suitcase when she asked me to get her shoes.""
I unfolded it carefully.
It was a printed itinerary showing our original honeymoon flights, hotel reservations, and private airport transfer.
The return flight had been crossed out in red ink.
Beside it, someone had written a new destination.
A remote resort on an island off the coast of Central America.
At the bottom of the page was a note:
No witnesses. No local contacts. Keep Daniel away from the mainland until the paperwork is complete.
I handed it to Detective Brooks.
She read it, then immediately called another officer.
"Find out whether these reservations were made under Mr. Carter's name. I want the booking records and payment information preserved.""
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered without speaking.
A man's voice came through, calm and almost friendly.
"Mr. Carter, my name is Andrew Price. I believe we have something to discuss.""
I stood up so quickly that Sophie dropped her pencil.
"How did you get this number?""
"That isn't important. What matters is that your fiancée has been telling you some very interesting stories.""
"Stay away from my family.""
He chuckled.
"Your family? That's an interesting choice of words, considering what happened to your wife.""
Detective Brooks signaled for me to put the call on speaker.
I did.
Andrew continued.
"Vanessa told you I was at your house, didn't she? She probably told you I was at the hospital too.""
"Did you tamper with my wife's medication?""
He laughed softly.
"I didn't touch Emily's medication.""
"Then why were you there?""
"Because somebody asked me to retrieve something from her room.""
My hands went cold.
"What?""
"A small envelope. Medical records. A list of prescriptions. Something that could have caused a great deal of trouble for certain people.""
"Who asked you?""
He paused.
Then he said, "You should ask your brother why he gave me the envelope.""
I looked through the glass partition.
Michael stood outside the room, staring at me.
His face had gone completely white.
Andrew's voice lowered.
"And Daniel? If you want to know what really happened to Emily, stop looking at Vanessa.""
The call ended.
Detective Brooks immediately began documenting the conversation.
I stared at Michael through the glass.
He shook his head, tears gathering in his eyes.
"I didn't give him anything," he mouthed.
But before I could ask another question, an officer rushed into the room.
"Detective, we've got a problem.""
Brooks turned.
"What kind of problem?""
"The hotel security team just called. Someone accessed the storage room where the wedding documents were being held.""
My stomach tightened.
"What was taken?""
The officer looked at me.
"The guardianship folder is still there. The insurance documents are still there.""
He paused.
"But the photograph of Vanessa with Andrew Price is missing.""
Then he added the words that made my blood run cold.
"Whoever took it left something else behind.""
He held up a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a small brass key.
I recognized it instantly.
It was the spare key to Emily's locked medical-records cabinet.
The key I'd believed had disappeared three years ago.
May you like
And taped to the evidence bag was a handwritten note.
The truth is in the house. Come alone if you want to find it.
