Chapter 12 - THE LAST RECORDING
Police took everyone’s weapons.
Nobody was allowed to leave.
A forensic technician managed to power Claire’s old phone.
One audio file remained.
Adrian pressed PLAY.
Rain.
Windshield wipers.
Claire breathing hard.
Then Madison’s voice.
“Pull over.”
Claire shouted.
“Get out of my car!”
“I just want the files.”
“Get out!”
A struggle.
Madison screamed.
Claire yelled.
Then tires screeched.
The recording became chaos.
Adrian closed his eyes.
Then Claire’s voice returned.
Weak.
Far away.
“Adrian…”
Natalie sobbed.
Claire coughed.
“If you ever hear this…”
Adrian covered his mouth.
“I love you.”
He broke.
Three years of grief hit him at once.
But the recording continued.
Footsteps approached the wreck.
Daniel’s voice.
“She’s alive.”
Caleb.
“Call an ambulance!”
Margaret.
“No police.”
Caleb shouted.
“Mom!”
Margaret replied.
“If Hale finds out first, we can control this.”
Adrian stared at his mother.
Then Claire whispered.
“Please…”
Someone came closer.
Madison.
Claire said:
“You wanted him.”
Madison answered:
“I never wanted this.”
“You wanted everything I had.”
Silence.
Then Claire said something that stunned everyone.
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
Adrian looked at Madison.
Madison went white.
The recording continued.
Madison whispered:
“Yes.”
“With Daniel’s baby?”
Silence.
Then Madison began crying.
The audio ended.
Adrian stared at her.
“You were pregnant?”
Madison said nothing.
Daniel looked shocked too.
“You told me you lost it.”
Madison’s lips trembled.
“I did.”
“When?”
She looked toward Emma.
Rachel immediately pulled her daughter close.
Adrian saw the movement.
No.
Impossible.
He looked at Rachel.
Then Emma.
Gray eyes.
Madison’s gray eyes.
Daniel’s gray eyes.
Rachel whispered, “Don’t.”
Adrian stepped backward.
“Emma?”
Rachel began crying.
“No.”
Madison stood.
“She’s mine.”
The entire room went silent.
Rachel shook her head.
“You gave her away.”
Madison stared at Emma.
“She’s still mine.”
Emma clung to Rachel.
“You’re not my mommy.”
The words hit Madison harder than any accusation.
Rachel faced Adrian.
“Claire helped arrange the adoption.”
Adrian stared.
“When Madison gave birth, she wanted the baby hidden because Daniel was married at the time.”
Daniel looked away.
Rachel continued.
“Claire knew I couldn’t have children.”
“So she gave Emma to you.”
Rachel nodded.
“Legally.”
Adrian understood another piece.
Claire hadn’t only discovered financial crimes.
She had known Madison and Daniel’s most dangerous secret.
Madison suddenly looked toward the window.
Then at Daniel.
“I never told you where Claire put the original documents.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“Where?”
Madison smiled bitterly.
“With Emma.”
Rachel’s face changed.
“What?”
Madison pointed at the stuffed rabbit.
“The rabbit Claire gave her.”
May you like
Daniel lunged.
And Emma screamed.
