Chapter 10
Ryan was missing.
Diane was missing.
Rebecca was missing.
And suddenly my father’s death was no longer a family tragedy from three years ago.
It was an open wound.
Police searched the lake roads through the night.
At two in the morning, I was still in Dad’s office.
Claire had gone home only because I forced her.
Daniel sat across from me.
Neither of us had much left to say.
At two-seventeen, the house intercom buzzed.
Security spoke through the speaker.
“Ms. Carter, there’s a woman at the east gate.”
I stood.
“Who?”
“She says her name is Rebecca.”
Daniel and I stared at each other.
“Let her in.”
Detective Bell had left two officers at the property.
They met Rebecca at the entrance.
She looked nothing like the photograph.
Her coat was torn.
Mud covered one knee.
There was a bruise along her jaw.
But she was walking.
I ran toward her.
She stopped when she saw me.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then she whispered, “You look like your mother.”
I didn’t know why that nearly broke me.
“Where’s Ryan?”
“I don’t know.”
“Diane?”
Rebecca’s face hardened.
“Hopefully somewhere far away.”
“Were you kidnapped?”
She looked at the officers.
“I need a lawyer.”
Daniel groaned.
“Rebecca.”
She ignored him.
I said, “There was blood at the cottage.”
“Mine.”
“You’re hurt?”
“Cut my hand.”
She showed us a bandaged palm.
One officer asked, “How did you get here?”
“I stole a car.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“Of course you did.”
Rebecca glared.
“It belonged to Diane.”
“Where is it?”
“Two blocks away.”
“Why didn’t you drive to a police station?”
“Because I don’t know who to trust.”
The officers exchanged looks.
I understood their frustration.
I also understood hers.
“Come inside.”
They protested.
I told them she could speak with police after medical care and counsel.
Rebecca entered the house slowly.
When she reached my father’s office, she stopped.
Her face changed.
“He kept it the same.”
“You were here before?”
“Many times.”
Daniel looked stunned.
“How did nobody know?”
Rebecca gave him a tired smile.
“Because your uncle was better at keeping secrets than you are.”
I made coffee.
She didn’t drink it.
She sat in Dad’s old chair and stared at the desk.
Finally, I asked, “What happened?”
“Diane came to my apartment.”
“Why did you go with her?”
“She said Ryan had the red case.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
“Then why weren’t they together?”
Rebecca’s mouth tightened.
“Because Diane lied to him too.”
That sounded believable.
“She told me she wanted to trade the case for documents I have.”
“What documents?”
“Original bank records.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“You said the ledgers were proof.”
“Copies are proof if authenticated. Originals are stronger.”
“Where are they?”
“Safe.”
I said, “What happened at the cottage?”
“Diane took my phone and drove me there.”
“Against your will?”
“Eventually.”
“What does that mean?”
“She started threatening you.”
I went still.
“She said if I didn’t cooperate, she would release information that could destroy your reputation.”
“What information?”
Rebecca looked at me.
“That your father may not have been your biological father.”
The words didn’t register.
Then they did.
Daniel whispered, “What?”
I stared at her.
“What did you say?”
Rebecca’s eyes filled with regret.
“There’s a letter in the red case.”
“From whom?”
“Your mother.”
My mother had died when I was seventeen.
I knew her handwriting better than my own.
“What does it say?”
“That she had an affair.”
The room swayed.
Daniel stood.
“That’s enough.”
“No,” I said.
Rebecca continued reluctantly.
“She was pregnant when she married your father.”
“No.”
“Emily—”
“No.”
“My brother knew.”
“Then why did he raise me?”
Rebecca’s face softened.
“Because he loved you.”
That hurt worse.
I sat down.
For thirty-four years, I had been Henry Carter’s daughter.
Nothing Rebecca said could change the man who taught me to ride a bicycle, helped me study for chemistry, sat beside my hospital bed when I had appendicitis, cried at my college graduation.
Still, the secret hit deep.
“Who was my biological father?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“Does Diane?”
“She thinks she does.”
“Who?”
Rebecca looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“She believes it was a man named Thomas Hayes.”
I frowned.
The name meant nothing.
Then Daniel’s face drained.
“What?”
I looked at him.
“What?”
Daniel stared at Rebecca.
“No.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
I stood.
“Who is Thomas Hayes?”
Daniel whispered,
“Ryan’s father.”
The room went silent.
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
“No.”
Rebecca said quickly, “Diane has no proof.”
“Ryan’s father?”
“She believes—”
“That would make Ryan…”
My voice died.
Rebecca stood.
“Emily, listen to me. Diane wanted you frightened. That was the leverage.”
I backed away.
“Did Ryan know?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did Diane know before the wedding?”
Rebecca didn’t answer fast enough.
I grabbed my phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Finding my husband.”
Daniel moved toward me.
“Emily.”
I stepped back.
“No one stops me this time.”
The phone rang.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared from Ryan’s number.
I opened it with shaking hands.
One sentence.
MY MOTHER LIED TO BOTH OF US.
A location pin followed.
May you like
And beneath it:
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.
