Chapter 8 - RACHEL SPEAKS
Rachel could barely talk.
Her memory came in fragments.
Doctors warned everyone not to pressure her.
Michael did not visit.
Not at first.
He sent flowers.
A short note.
Thank you for trying to protect my daughter.
Three days later, Rachel asked to see him.
Michael entered the hospital room with Daniel.
Rachel looked smaller than he remembered from school events.
Thin.
Pale.
A scar ran along her temple.
She studied Michael for several seconds.
“You came home.”
Michael swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Finally.”
The word hurt.
He sat.
“I’m sorry.”
Rachel shook her head.
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have.”
“She was good at hiding it.”
Michael looked at her.
“What happened that night?”
Rachel’s eyes closed.
“Vanessa came to my apartment.”
“With Robert?”
“He came later.”
“Why?”
“I told her I was reporting everything.”
Rachel’s breathing became shallow.
“She begged first.”
“Then threatened me.”
“Then she hit me.”
Michael clenched his hands.
“With what?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Robert arrived.”
“He told her she had gone too far.”
Michael stared.
“Did he call for help?”
Rachel laughed bitterly.
“No.”
“He cleaned.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Cleaned what?”
“My kitchen.”
“Deleted files.”
“Took my phone.”
“And waited.”
Michael felt sick.
“Why?”
Rachel opened her eyes.
“They thought I might die.”
Silence filled the room.
Michael could barely breathe.
“Did Robert know about Lily?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Everything.”
Michael looked toward Daniel.
Rachel continued.
“He knew because Vanessa told him.”
“Why would she?”
Rachel’s expression changed.
“Because she thought Lily was becoming Emma.”
Michael froze.
“What does that mean?”
Rachel turned her face toward the window.
“Vanessa talked about Emma constantly.”
“She said Emma used to lie.”
“Used to embarrass her.”
“Used to disobey.”
Michael felt cold.
“You knew about Emma?”
“Robert told me.”
“He was drunk at a school fundraiser.”
“What did he say?”
Rachel looked at Michael again.
“He said Emma’s death wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Michael stopped breathing.
Daniel sat up.
“What?”
Rachel swallowed.
“He said Vanessa was punishing her.”
Michael’s pulse hammered.
“Punishing her how?”
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears.
“She locked Emma outside near the pool.”
Michael went numb.
“In winter?”
Rachel nodded.
“She was six.”
Michael stared.
“The death certificate says drowning.”
Rachel whispered.
“I know.”
“What actually happened?”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Robert changed the story.”
Michael stood.
His chair scraped backward.
Daniel grabbed his arm.
“Mike.”
Michael could barely hear him.
Vanessa had lost one child.
Then married Michael.
Then abused Lily and Ethan.
And Robert had covered for her once before.
Michael looked at Rachel.
“Was Emma alive when she fell in the pool?”
Rachel opened her eyes.
“Yes.”
May you like
Then she whispered the sentence that changed the investigation completely.
“But Vanessa was the one who locked the door.”
