Chapter 12 - NOAH’S SECRET
Police checked the Bells’ street cameras and arranged extra patrols. Daniel stayed away until they finished collecting evidence, though every part of him wanted to be at their door.
The next day, Noah told the caseworker what he had found.
Weeks earlier, Melissa had given him a box of Rachel’s old things to sort. At the bottom was a cheap digital recorder Rachel used to practice speaking after her stroke. Noah had kept it because he liked hearing her voice.
“I thought Melissa would throw it away,” he said.
The recorder was still in his backpack.
Most of its files were Rachel naming objects and practicing short sentences. On the last recording, her voice sounded tired. Then Melissa’s voice entered the room.
“Just sign, Rachel. It lets me handle Noah’s school forms.”
“I need to read it.”
“You can barely hold a pen.”
A chair scraped.
Then Victor spoke. “We’ve wasted enough time. Where did you put the warehouse files?”
Rachel answered clearly. “Somewhere you won’t find them.”
The recording ended with Victor swearing and a door slamming.
Priya passed it to the investigators. Noah sat beside Daniel, twisting the strap of his backpack.
“Did I do something bad by keeping it?” he asked.
Daniel shook his head. “You were trying to take care of Aunt Rachel.”
“I was trying to take care of you, too.”
Daniel swallowed. “That’s my job, Noah. You don’t have to carry all this by yourself.”
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Noah leaned against him. For a few quiet minutes, neither said anything.
Then Ms. Torres called. Someone had reported seeing Victor’s truck outside Rachel’s care facility.
