Chapter 9: The Truth Behind The Accident
I left the police station without saying goodbye.
Not because I trusted Daniel.
Not because I trusted the message.
Because I didn’t trust anyone anymore.
The person I loved most had been dead for four years.
Then alive.
Then possibly connected to the woman who terrorized my son.
Every truth I had ever known had turned into a question.
I drove to the address Daniel sent.
A small abandoned warehouse outside the city.
I almost didn’t go inside.
Almost.
Then I saw something through the cracked window.
A familiar jacket.
Daniel’s jacket.
I pushed the door open.
“Daniel?””
Nothing.
I walked farther.
The warehouse smelled like dust and gasoline.
Then a voice behind me.
“You shouldn’t have come alone.””
I turned.
Daniel stood there.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
My first instinct was to run toward him.
My second was to slap him.
I did the second.
The sound echoed.
He didn’t fight back.
“You deserved that.””
“You’re alive.””
“Yes.””
“You watched me mourn you.””
His eyes filled.
“I know.””
“You watched Logan grow up without you.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
He looked away.
“Because if they knew I survived, they would come after you.””
“Who?””
He hesitated.
“People inside the school system.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I expect you to hate me.””
That hurt more.
“Then tell me the truth.””
He sat down.
“I found out about Lily.””
My breath stopped.
“How?””
“Mrs. Hart.””
My anger returned.
“You worked with her.””
“No.””
His voice sharpened.
“I was investigating her.””
“For what?””
“For taking children.””
I stared.
“Lily was the first.””
He nodded.
“Eight years ago, Mrs. Hart was working as a substitute teacher. She had access to hospital records through a family connection.””
I felt sick.
“She knew about our baby.””
“Yes.””
“And she took her?””
Daniel looked down.
“We don’t know exactly what happened.””
“You don’t know?””
“I found evidence she was involved.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because the people protecting her threatened you.””
“Who?””
He looked at me.
“Principal Dawson.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
He pulled out a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Emails.
Documents.
And one picture.
A young woman.
Holding a baby.
The woman was Mrs. Hart.
The baby was wearing a hospital bracelet.
My daughter’s bracelet.
I covered my mouth.
“No…”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Rachel.””
I looked at him.
“Where is Lily?””
His face changed.
A sadness I had never seen before.
“I found her.””
My heart stopped.
“You found her?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
He looked toward the door.
“She’s the reason Mrs. Hart ran.””
“Who is she?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Because someone else did.
A small voice came from behind me.
“Mom?””
I turned.
A girl stood in the doorway.
Seven years old.
The same girl from the hidden room.
Ava.
No.
Not Ava.
She was holding a necklace.
A necklace I recognized.
One I had bought before my daughter was born.
The girl looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“My name isn’t Ava.””
My hands began shaking.
She touched the necklace.
“Mrs. Hart told me never to say my real name.””
I couldn’t breathe.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“My name is Lily.””
