Chapter 7: The Person Who Knew
I read Sarah’s message three times.
*Ask your father who told him where your daughter would be standing.*
My hand went cold around the phone.
Across the room, Richard Coleman watched me.
He didn't ask what Sarah had written.
He already knew.
“Dad,” I said.
He said nothing.
“Who told you where Ava would be?””
My mother looked at him.
“What is she talking about?””
Richard's eyes stayed on me.
“I don't know.””
“That's a lie.””
“You've been listening to Sarah.””
“Who told you?””
He looked toward Brandon.
Brandon stood slowly.
“Richard.””
My father's jaw clenched.
“Don't.””
“You need to answer her.””
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
Brandon stepped closer.
“I know exactly what I'm talking about.””
I looked between them.
“What did you do?””
Richard suddenly laughed.
It wasn't amused.
It was the bitter laugh of a man who had run out of places to hide.
“You've always been dramatic.””
I took one step toward him.
“And you've always confused silence with surrender.””
His expression hardened.
Detective Harris watched us carefully.
“Mr. Coleman,” he said, “answer the question.””
Richard looked at him.
“I didn't know where the child would be.””
I caught the wording.
Not I didn't know where Ava was.
Not I didn't know she'd be in the kitchen.
He said he didn't know where she *would be*.
I looked at Brandon.
He noticed it too.
“Who knew?”” I asked.
Richard said nothing.
My mother suddenly whispered, “Nicole.””
I turned.
“What?””
She looked terrified.
“Nicole knew.””
Brandon shook his head.
“No.””
“She was there.””
“That doesn't mean she told him.””
I remembered Nicole's message from the night before.
*You have no idea what you just started.*
I grabbed my phone.
“I'm calling her.””
No answer.
I called again.
Still nothing.
Then a notification appeared.
A new message.
Not from Nicole.
From Sarah.
*Don't call her.*
I stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
*She's in danger.*
I looked up.
“Detective.””
Harris stepped toward me.
“What?””
I showed him.
He read the messages.
“When did she send this?””
“Seconds ago.””
“Call her.””
“I thought you said—”
“Call her.””
I dialed Nicole.
This time someone answered.
But it wasn't Nicole.
A man's voice said, “Hello, Emily.””
My blood froze.
“Who is this?””
The line went silent.
Then the man said, “You should have left this alone.””
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Detective Harris immediately held out his hand.
“Give me the phone.””
I handed it over.
He began documenting the call.
My father sat motionless.
I looked at him.
“You know that voice.””
He didn't answer.
“Dad.””
His eyes closed.
Brandon stepped toward him.
“Tell her.””
Richard whispered, “It's over.””
“What is?””
He opened his eyes.
“The past.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“The past doesn't call me from unknown numbers.””
My father stood.
“You don't understand what you're dealing with.””
“Then explain it.””
“I was protecting this family.””
“You attacked my daughter.””
“I lost control.””
“You tried to control a three-year-old with a belt.””
He looked at me.
“She was standing where—”
He stopped.
I stared at him.
“Where what?””
His face changed.
“Where?””
He said nothing.
“Where was she standing, Dad?””
My voice rose.
“Who told you?””
He backed away.
Detective Harris stepped in.
“Mr. Coleman.””
My father looked at the detective.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
Richard looked at me.
“Your sister.””
My heart stopped.
“Nicole?””
“She told me Ava would be inside.””
Brandon swore under his breath.
“No.””
I felt something break inside my chest.
“Why?””
Richard's eyes moved toward the floor.
“Because she wanted you to learn a lesson.””
I couldn't speak.
My mother stood.
“Richard, stop.””
“You asked me to tell the truth.””
“I didn't ask you to blame Nicole.””
“I'm not blaming her.””
He looked at me.
“She told me the child would be alone.””
My stomach turned.
“She told you that?””
“Yes.””
“And you believed her.””
“I didn't think—”
“You didn't think?””
My voice shook.
“You saw a three-year-old holding a soda and decided to swing a belt.””
“I didn't intend for her to fall.””
“But you knew she was there.””
“Yes.””
“Because Nicole told you.””
He nodded.
I stepped backward.
Nicole.
My sister.
The woman who had cried on the phone.
The woman who had given me the cassette.
The woman who had warned me about Dad.
She had also given him information about Ava.
I couldn't make the pieces fit.
Then Brandon spoke.
“She's lying.””
I turned.
“What?””
“Dad is lying.””
Richard glared at him.
“You weren't there.””
“No.””
Brandon pointed at the belt.
“But I know you.””
He looked at me.
“Dad always does this.””
“Does what?””
“When something goes wrong, he finds the person with the least power and makes them responsible.””
My mother whispered, “He's telling the truth.””
Everyone looked at her.
She wiped her face.
“Nicole didn't tell Richard.””
My heart pounded.
“Then why did Dad say she did?””
“Because he wants you to hate her.””
“Why?””
My mother looked toward the front door.
“Because Nicole was the one who sent Sarah the recording.””
Silence.
I stared at her.
“What?””
“She found it.””
“When?””
“Years ago.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because your father threatened her.””
Brandon shook his head.
“He threatened all of us.””
My phone vibrated.
A text from Nicole.
*I'm sorry.*
Then another.
*I didn't tell Dad where Ava would be.*
Then:
*But I did tell him something else.*
My heart stopped.
I typed:
*What?*
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally, her message came through.
*I told him you were coming tonight.*
I stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?”” Daniel asked over the phone.
I hadn't realized I was still connected to him.
“Daniel?””
“I'm here.””
“Nicole knew I was coming.””
“What?””
“She told Dad.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
My phone buzzed again.
This time the message contained a photograph.
It showed my parents' house from across the street.
Taken that morning.
A black SUV was parked outside.
In the windshield was a familiar object.
A child's pink backpack.
Ava's backpack.
The same one Daniel had left in our car.
I zoomed in.
A second message appeared.
*Your family isn't the only one keeping secrets.*
Then:
*Look at the license plate.*
I did.
My stomach dropped.
I knew that number.
I had seen it before.
Not at the party.
Not at my parents' house.
At the hospital.
I looked at Detective Harris.
“That SUV was outside the hospital.””
His face changed.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
He pulled out his phone.
“I'm calling my unit.””
I turned toward my mother.
“Where is Nicole?””
She began crying.
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
“No.””
“You do.””
My father suddenly whispered:
“She went to the old house.””
I looked at him.
“What old house?””
He said nothing.
Brandon's face went pale.
“The Whitmore house.””
My mother's hands began shaking.
I stared at her.
“Where is that?””
She closed her eyes.
“Three miles outside town.””
“Why would Nicole go there?””
My father looked at me.
“Because that's where Sarah disappeared.””
My phone rang.
Nicole.
I answered.
“Nicole?””
Her voice was barely audible.
“Emily, don't come here.””
“Where are you?””
“I made a mistake.””
“Where are you?””
“Listen to me.””
Her breathing was frantic.
“You need to take Ava and leave town.””
“Why?””
A loud crash sounded behind her.
Nicole gasped.
Then a man's voice shouted something in the background.
I stood.
“Nicole!””
She whispered:
“He found me.””
“Who?””
The line went dead.
I looked at Detective Harris.
“She's at the Whitmore house.””
He was already moving.
My father grabbed his arm.
“You can't go there.””
Harris turned.
“Why?””
May you like
Richard's face was drained of color.
“Because that's where we buried the truth.””
