Chapter 5: The Girl in the Photograph
I didn’t sleep.
I couldn’t.
The photograph stayed on the floor beside my bed all night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lily’s face.
Seven years old.
Wearing her yellow jacket.
Holding Daniel’s hand.
And standing beside a woman I had never seen before.
The woman was smiling.
Like she belonged there.
Like she was part of our family.
But I knew everyone in my daughter’s life.
Or I thought I did.
When morning came, I hid the photograph inside my uniform.
I needed answers.
And I knew exactly who had them.
Ava.
I found her outside during yard time.
She was sitting alone.
That was unusual.
Usually women avoided her because they feared her.
Now they avoided her because they were afraid of what she knew.
I walked toward her.
She looked up.
“You found something.””
Not a question.
“How did you know?””
“Because that’s what Ruth wanted you to find.””
My heart stopped.
“You knew?””
Ava looked away.
“Ruth told me she hid something.””
“You knew she was helping me?””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
Ava’s jaw tightened.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
I laughed.
“By attacking me?””
“That was before I knew who you were.””
“What does that mean?””
Ava looked at me.
For the first time, there was no anger in her eyes.
Only regret.
“You’re Lily’s mother.””
I froze.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
She looked down.
“Because I was there.””
The world became silent.
“You were there the night she disappeared.””
Ava didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
My hands shook.
“You were in my house.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Her eyes filled with something close to shame.
“My father sent me.””
“Your father?””
Ava nodded.
“Richard Vale.””
The name sounded familiar.
Then I remembered.
The wealthy businessman.
The man who owned the company where Daniel worked.
The man everyone in town respected.
“The man who ruined my life.””
Ava looked at me.
“He ruined mine too.””
I studied her face.
“You expect me to believe you’re a victim?””
“No.””
She looked away.
“I don’t deserve forgiveness.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Ava was quiet for a long time.
Then she spoke.
“Your husband owed my father money.””
I frowned.
“Daniel?””
“He made bad investments.””
“That’s impossible.””
“You didn’t know everything about him.””
The words hurt because they were true.
Ava continued.
“My father offered him a deal.””
“What deal?””
Her voice dropped.
“Access.””
“To what?””
“To you.””
My stomach turned.
“What?””
“He knew Daniel could convince you to trust him.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
Ava looked at me.
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
I wanted to walk away.
I wanted to believe her.
But then she said something that stopped me.
“Lily wasn’t supposed to disappear.””
My breath caught.
“What?””
Ava looked terrified.
“She wasn’t the target.””
“Then who was?””
Ava didn’t answer.
A guard called from across the yard.
“Carter!””
Neither of us moved.
The guard shouted again.
But Ava grabbed my arm.
“Listen to me.””
I looked at her.
“Your daughter saw something she wasn’t supposed to see.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did she see?””
Ava whispered:
“She saw Daniel and my father moving something from your house.””
My hands went numb.
“Moving what?””
Ava looked toward the prison cameras.
Then back at me.
“Evidence.””
Before I could ask more, a loudspeaker interrupted.
“Carter. Report to administration immediately.””
Ava released my arm.
“Go.””
“Why?””
“Because they know you found the photograph.””
I stared at her.
“How?””
Ava looked at the camera above us.
“They always know.””
When I reached administration, the warden was waiting.
She placed a file on the desk.
My file.
But something had been added.
A new report.
A new accusation.
I read the title.
My heart stopped.
“Attempted murder of another inmate.””
I looked up.
“What is this?””
The warden didn’t answer.
Instead, she slid another piece of paper toward me.
A witness statement.
Signed by Ava.
I read the first sentence.
May you like
And everything inside me broke.
“I, Ava Vale, witnessed Emily Carter confess that she killed her own daughter.””
