Chapter 13: The Witness Mark Buried
The name at the bottom of the page made my hands shake.
Thomas Reed.
I read it three times.
I had never heard that name before.
“Who is he?”” Zoe asked.
Anna took the notebook from me.
Her face changed the moment she saw it.
“Thomas.””
“You know him?””
Anna nodded slowly.
“He was my sister’s friend.””
Rachel leaned closer.
“What happened to him?””
Anna looked down.
“After Emily died, Thomas disappeared.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew too much.””
The room became silent.
I looked at the note again.
Find him before Mark does.
My phone buzzed.
Another unknown number.
For one second, I thought it was Mark.
Then I answered.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice whispered:
“Is this Chloe Anderson?””
“Yes.””
“You have Emily’s notebook.””
My entire body went still.
“Who is this?””
“Someone who should have spoken years ago.””
I stood.
“Are you Thomas?””
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
Everyone looked at me.
I put the phone on speaker.
“Where are you?””
“I don’t have much time.””
“Time for what?””
“To tell you what Mark did.””
I walked toward the window.
“You know about Emily?””
“I was there that night.””
My heart pounded.
“What night?””
“The night she died.””
Nobody spoke.
Thomas continued.
“Mark told everyone it was an accident.””
I closed my eyes.
“But it wasn’t.””
Zoe whispered:
“Oh my God.””
“What happened?””
Thomas took a breath.
“Emily discovered Mark had been moving money from a company account. She had proof.””
“We know.””
“No.””
His voice became urgent.
“You don’t understand. The money wasn’t the biggest problem.””
“Then what was?””
A pause.
“Emily found out Mark had been creating fake identities.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He was building a way to disappear.””
I looked at Anna.
“He wanted to leave?””
“No,” Thomas said.
“He wanted someone else to take the blame.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
“You.””
I felt like the floor moved.
“Me?””
“Not at first.””
Thomas sounded exhausted.
“But after he met you, everything changed.””
I gripped the phone.
“Why me?””
“Because you were kind.””
The answer hurt.
“What?””
“Mark knew you would love Lily. He knew you would protect her. He knew everyone would believe you were the mother who cared for her.””
I swallowed.
“So he planned this from the beginning.””
“Yes.””
The silence that followed felt unbearable.
Then Thomas said:
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
“Emily recorded a confession.””
“A confession from who?””
“Mark.””
I froze.
“Where is it?””
“I have it.””
Everyone looked at me.
“Then give it to me.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because Mark knows I’m alive.””
A chill ran through me.
“How?””
“I saw him yesterday.””
My heart raced.
“Where?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
Then his voice dropped.
“He came to my house.””
The call went silent.
“Thomas?””
Nothing.
“Thomas?””
The line disconnected.
Zoe immediately grabbed her phone.
“We need to find him.””
But before she could search, my phone received a message.
A photo.
Thomas standing outside his house.
And behind him…
Mark.
The message said:
“You should have stopped asking questions.””
I felt the anger rise.
Not fear.
Not anymore.
“He found him.””
Anna grabbed her coat.
“Then we go now.””
We drove across the city without speaking.
Every traffic light felt too long.
Every second felt dangerous.
When we arrived, the front door of Thomas’s house was open.
Too open.
I ran inside.
“Thomas!””
No answer.
The living room was destroyed.
Papers everywhere.
A broken lamp.
Then Zoe found him.
“Chloe.””
Thomas was lying on the floor.
Alive.
Barely.
I dropped beside him.
“Thomas?””
His eyes opened slightly.
“Emily…”
“No. I’m Chloe.””
He looked at me.
Then whispered:
“You look like she said you would.””
My throat tightened.
“What happened?””
He tried to sit up.
“Mark came.””
“What did he want?””
Thomas grabbed my hand.
“The recording.””
“What recording?””
“The one Emily made before she died.””
My heart raced.
“Where is it?””
Thomas looked toward an old bookshelf.
“Behind the third book.””
Zoe ran.
She pulled out a small box.
Inside was a flash drive.
Thomas smiled weakly.
“Emily knew someone would need the truth.””
I looked at the drive.
“What’s on it?””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“The reason Mark killed her.””
The room went silent.
Then police sirens filled the street.
Someone had called.
But before anyone arrived, my phone buzzed.
A message from Mark.
“I hope you enjoy the recording.””
My blood turned cold.
“He knows we have it.””
Anna looked at me.
“How?””
I stared at the message.
May you like
Then noticed the final line.
“You were never the only one being watched.””
