Chapter 9: The Memory Lily Buried
Nobody spoke.
Not even the sound of the television could fill the silence.
Lily’s words stayed in the air.
I saw who pushed the car.
I sat beside her.
“Sweetheart, what do you mean?””
Her eyes filled with fear.
“I’m not supposed to talk about it.””
I lowered my voice.
“You can tell Daddy anything.””
She looked at Rachel.
Rachel covered her mouth.
“Lily…”
My daughter looked down.
“Mommy said if I told anyone, bad people would come.””
My heart broke.
“Which mommy?””
She pointed at Rachel.
Rachel closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew?””
She nodded slowly.
“She remembered pieces.””
“Pieces?””
Rachel sat down.
“After the accident, she had nightmares.””
My hands shook.
“You knew she saw something?””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I was trying to protect her.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You were protecting a secret.””
Rachel looked like she wanted to argue.
But she didn’t.
Because she knew I was right.
Daniel crouched beside Lily.
“Lily, can you tell us what you remember?””
She hugged her rabbit.
“We were in the car.””
Her voice was tiny.
“Mommy was driving.””
I listened.
“She was crying.””
Rachel looked away.
“She was talking to someone on the phone.””
“Who?””
Lily shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
She closed her eyes.
“But then Mommy stopped the car.””
The room felt colder.
“She got out.””
“Why?””
“She saw Uncle Mark.””
I froze.
Mark Carter.
Evelyn’s husband.
The name that kept appearing.
Lily continued.
“Mommy was angry.””
“What happened next?””
“She yelled.””
My daughter’s voice trembled.
“Then Uncle Mark pushed Mommy.””
Rachel gasped.
Daniel stood.
“What?””
Lily started crying.
“He pushed her near the road.””
I felt like the ground disappeared.
“And then?””
Lily covered her ears.
“I heard a crash.””
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then she whispered:
“Vanessa was there too.””
I turned toward my wife.
But Vanessa wasn’t in the room.
My blood ran cold.
“Where is Vanessa?””
Daniel immediately stood.
“She was here a minute ago.””
I looked around.
The front door was open.
She was gone.
On the table was a piece of paper.
A note.
I picked it up.
My hands shook as I read it.
Richard,
You were never supposed to know this much.
I looked at Rachel.
Then back at the note.
You always thought I wanted Lily’s money.
You were wrong.
The money was only the beginning.
My stomach tightened.
Daniel read over my shoulder.
The final line made his face change.
I’m taking Lily before you learn what she really is.
I looked at Rachel.
“What does that mean?””
She didn’t answer.
“Rachel.””
Her face had gone pale.
“I don’t know.””
But I knew she was lying.
Before I could question her, my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Vanessa.
There was a photo attached.
Lily’s bedroom.
Empty.
My heart stopped.
Another message appeared.
Come alone.
No police.
No Rachel.
Or you’ll never see your daughter again.
I ran upstairs.
Lily’s room was empty.
Her stuffed rabbit was lying on the bed.
And on the pillow was another note.
This one wasn’t from Vanessa.
It was written in a child’s handwriting.
Daddy,
I’m sorry.
I tried to be brave.
Please find me.
I love you.
My knees nearly collapsed.
Rachel grabbed the note.
Then she whispered something that made everything worse.
“Richard…”
“What?””
“She knows.””
“Who?””
Rachel looked at me with fear in her eyes.
“Vanessa knows where Thomas hid the truth about Lily’s past.””
I stared.
“What truth?””
Rachel’s voice trembled.
“The truth about who Lily really is.””
Outside, a car engine started.
I rushed to the window.
A black SUV was disappearing down the street.
And in the back seat…
I saw my daughter’s face pressed against the glass.
Watching me.
Crying.
May you like
Then the SUV turned the corner.
And vanished.
