Chapter 6
Evelyn stared at the photograph.
“No.”
Marissa had been her older sister.
Her protector.
Her closest friend.
The woman who had practically moved into Evelyn’s house after Nathan died.
She had cooked meals.
Picked Wren up from school.
Sat beside Evelyn through sleepless nights.
“She can’t be involved.”
Caleb took the photograph.
“When was this taken?”
Helen looked at the date.
“Two years ago.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Marissa barely knew Nathan.”
Caleb gave her a painful look.
“Apparently she knew him better than you thought.”
Evelyn called her sister.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
She texted.
Where are you?
Nothing.
Detective Grant immediately sent officers to Marissa’s apartment.
It was empty.
Her suitcase was gone.
Closet half empty.
No car.
Evelyn felt betrayed before she even knew the truth.
Then Grant received another call.
Marissa’s car had been found at the train station.
Abandoned.
“Maybe she ran,” Helen said.
“Or someone wants us to think she did,” Caleb replied.
Evelyn remembered Nathan’s recording.
The person I fear most is someone Evelyn loves.
She sat down.
Wren was at the police station with another officer.
Safe.
At least Evelyn prayed she was safe.
Grant approached.
“We found financial records connecting Mercer to shell companies. Cole appears to have been receiving payments.”
“And Marissa?”
“Her name appears on one account.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“How much?”
“Over four hundred thousand dollars.”
Helen gasped.
Evelyn could barely speak.
“My sister works at a dental office.”
Grant nodded.
“That’s why we need to locate her.”
Caleb found another file.
Inside was a copy of Nathan’s life insurance policy.
The beneficiary had originally been Evelyn.
But someone had submitted paperwork attempting to change it.
To a trust.
The trustee’s name was James Mercer.
The change had been rejected because Nathan’s signature didn’t match.
Evelyn understood.
“Cole killed Nathan for money.”
“Possibly,” Grant said.
“And Mercer helped.”
“Possibly.”
“What about Marissa?”
Grant did not answer.
Evelyn’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone went silent.
Grant told her to answer.
“Hello?”
A woman whispered, “Evie?”
Evelyn stood.
“Marissa?”
Her sister started crying.
“Don’t hang up.”
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Did you help Cole kill Nathan?”
“No!”
“Your name is on the accounts!”
“I know.”
“You disappeared!”
“Because they’re coming for me.”
“Who?”
Marissa breathed quickly.
“Mercer.”
Evelyn looked at Grant.
“Why?”
“Because I kept something.”
“What?”
“Proof.”
“Of Nathan’s death?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn nearly dropped the phone.
“Then bring it to police.”
“I can’t trust them.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
“Why not?”
Marissa went silent.
Evelyn realized she had heard the detective.
“You’re with Grant?”
“Yes.”
Marissa whispered, “Get away from her.”
Everyone froze.
Grant stared at the phone.
“Why?”
“Because Nathan discovered someone inside the department was protecting Mercer.”
Grant grabbed a notebook.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why tell her to leave me?”
“Because only three officers knew about Nathan’s first report.”
Caleb stepped closer.
“What report?”
“Nathan tried to report Mercer before he died.”
Evelyn stared at Grant.
The detective looked genuinely confused.
“We have no record.”
“That’s the point,” Marissa said.
Then there was a crash on her end.
“Marissa?”
Her breathing changed.
“They found me.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m sorry, Evie.”
“Tell me where you are!”
A man shouted in the background.
The phone fell.
Evelyn heard footsteps.
Then Marissa screamed.
The line went dead.
Evelyn looked at Detective Grant.
“Find her.”
Grant was already moving.
They traced the call.
A roadside motel twenty miles away.
Police arrived eleven minutes later.
Room 23 was empty.
The window was open.
A lamp had been knocked over.
No Marissa.
May you like
But on the bathroom mirror, written in red lipstick, were five words.
NATHAN SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD.
