Chapter 8: The Second Car## Chapter 8: The Second Car
For a moment, I
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
My mother was sitting at forgot how to breathe.
My mother was sitting at the kitchen table, crying into her hands.
Daniel stood near the kitchen table, crying into her hands.
Daniel stood near the counter, his phone still recording.
And I was kneeling in front of my ten the counter, his phone still recording.
And I was kneeling in front of my ten-year-old daughter, trying to explain why the people who were supposed to protect her had become the people she needed protection-year-old daughter, trying to explain why the people who were supposed to protect her had become the people she needed protection from.
"Mom," I said slowly.
"What exactly did you see that night?""
Evelyn looked up from.
"Mom," I said slowly.
"What exactly did you see that night?""
Evelyn looked up.
"Your father came home around eleven. His shirt was torn, and there was blood on his left.
"Your father came home around eleven. His shirt was torn, and there was blood on his left sleeve.""
"Did you ask him what happened?""
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
"He said he'd been in an argument sleeve.""
"Did you ask him what happened?""
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
"He said he'd been in an argument with Danielle.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"An argument?""
"He said she had threatened to destroy the family. with Danielle.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"An argument?""
"He said she had threatened to destroy the family. He told me she was driving away when another vehicle hit her.""
I stared at her.
"Did he say he was there He told me she was driving away when another vehicle hit her.""
I stared at her.
"Did he say he was there when it happened?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
My when it happened?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
My mother began shaking.
"Your father told me the police already knew everything. He said the other driver had been arrested and mother began shaking.
"Your father told me the police already knew everything. He said the other driver had been arrested and that nobody would believe us if we changed our story.""
"Did you believe him?""
She looked at me.
"I that nobody would believe us if we changed our story.""
"Did you believe him?""
She looked at me.
"I wanted to.""
I stood up.
"That's not an answer.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I was afraid.""
" wanted to.""
I stood up.
"That's not an answer.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Your father.""
I looked toward Daniel.
He had stopped recording.
"Marcus, we need to contact law enforcement immediatelyOf what?""
"Your father.""
I looked toward Daniel.
He had stopped recording.
"Marcus, we need to contact law enforcement immediately.""
I nodded.
But before Daniel could make the call, my mother grabbed my hand.
"Please. There's something else you need to know.""
I pulled away.
"What now?""
She swallowed.
"Your father.""
I nodded.
But before Daniel could make the call, my mother grabbed my hand.
"Please. There's something else you need to know.""
I pulled away.
"What now?""
She swallowed.
"Your father didn't come home alone that night.""
I stared at her.
"Who was with him?""
She looked toward the staircase.
"Tasha.""
The name hit didn't come home alone that night.""
I stared at her.
"Who was with him?""
She looked toward the staircase.
"Tasha.""
The name hit me like a physical blow.
I remembered Tasha telling me she'd never met Danielle.
I remembered her claiming me like a physical blow.
I remembered Tasha telling me she'd never met Danielle.
I remembered her claiming she had only heard about my first wife through mutual friends.
I remembered how she had comforted me when I first she had only heard about my first wife through mutual friends.
I remembered how she had comforted me when I first introduced her to the children.
Every memory suddenly felt contaminated.
"You're saying Tasha was in introduced her to the children.
Every memory suddenly felt contaminated.
"You're saying Tasha was in Dad's car?""
My mother nodded.
"She arrived about twenty minutes after he did. She was crying. She kept asking Dad's car?""
My mother nodded.
"She arrived about twenty minutes after he did. She was crying. She kept asking whether Danielle had said anything before...""
She stopped.
"Before what?""
My mother covered her mouth.
"Before she stopped moving.""
I whether Danielle had said anything before...""
She stopped.
"Before what?""
My mother covered her mouth.
"Before she stopped moving.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Daniel immediately picked up his phone.
"I'm contacting the police.""
My mother began pleading.
"Please, Daniel. Let me explain felt the blood drain from my face.
Daniel immediately picked up his phone.
"I'm contacting the police.""
My mother began pleading.
"Please, Daniel. Let me explain everything first.""
He looked at her.
"You've had six years to explain.""
He everything first.""
He looked at her.
"You've had six years to explain.""
He walked into the hallway.
I turned toward my mother.
"Did Tasha know Danielle was going to meet Gregory?""
"Yes.""
"Did she know about walked into the hallway.
I turned toward my mother.
"Did Tasha know Danielle was going to meet Gregory?""
"Yes.""
"Did she know about the insurance money?""
My mother nodded.
"Your father told her everything.""
"Why would she help him?""
My mother looked at me with the insurance money?""
My mother nodded.
"Your father told her everything.""
"Why would she help him?""
My mother looked at me with exhausted eyes.
"Because she wanted to marry you.""
I stared.
"What?""
"She had been asking your exhausted eyes.
"Because she wanted to marry you.""
I stared.
"What?""
"She had been asking your father about you for months. She knew you were lonely. She knew you were raising two young children alone.""
My throat tightened.
"You're saying she planned to father about you for months. She knew you were lonely. She knew you were raising two young children alone.""
My throat tightened.
"You're saying she planned to meet me?""
My mother nodded.
"Your father told me she believed she could help him get access to the insurance money after she meet me?""
My mother nodded.
"Your father told me she believed she could help him get access to the insurance money after she became part of the family.""
I took a step backward.
"That's insane.""
"I know.""
"How long had became part of the family.""
I took a step backward.
"That's insane.""
"I know.""
"How long had they been planning this?""
My mother began crying again.
"I don't know exactly.""
I looked at the staircase.
Caleb and Imani were standing together they been planning this?""
My mother began crying again.
"I don't know exactly.""
I looked at the staircase.
Caleb and Imani were standing together at the landing.
They had heard enough.
I immediately walked toward them.
"Hey, guys.""
Imani's face at the landing.
They had heard enough.
I immediately walked toward them.
"Hey, guys.""
Imani's face was pale.
"Is Grandma going to jail?""
I knelt.
"That's something the adults need was pale.
"Is Grandma going to jail?""
I knelt.
"That's something the adults need to work out. You don't need to worry about it.""
Caleb looked at me.
"Is Grandpa bad?""
I swallowed.
" to work out. You don't need to worry about it.""
Caleb looked at me.
"Is Grandpa bad?""
I swallowed.
"Grandpa made some very serious choices. But none of this is your fault.""
Imani held her brother's hand.
"Are we going to loseGrandpa made some very serious choices. But none of this is your fault.""
Imani held her brother's hand.
"Are we going to lose our house?""
"No.""
"Are we going to lose you?""
I pulled both children into my arms.
"Never.""
For several minutes, we stayed together our house?""
"No.""
"Are we going to lose you?""
I pulled both children into my arms.
"Never.""
For several minutes, we stayed together.
Then Daniel returned.
"The police are on their way. I've also contacted the detective handling the original accident investigation.""
I looked at him.
".
Then Daniel returned.
"The police are on their way. I've also contacted the detective handling the original accident investigation.""
I looked at him.
"Can we trust them?""
"We can insist on an independent review. And we're preserving every document.""
Can we trust them?""
"We can insist on an independent review. And we're preserving every document.""
He glanced toward my mother.
"Your mother needs to give a formal statement.""
Evelyn nodded.
"I willHe glanced toward my mother.
"Your mother needs to give a formal statement.""
Evelyn nodded.
"I will.""
Before the officers arrived, I called Gregory.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"I know about the second car.""
There was silence.
Then he said.""
Before the officers arrived, I called Gregory.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"I know about the second car.""
There was silence.
Then he said, "Evelyn told you?""
"Yes. And she says Tasha was there too.""
Gregory exhaled.
"I was afraid, "Evelyn told you?""
"Yes. And she says Tasha was there too.""
Gregory exhaled.
"I was afraid of that.""
"Why?""
"Because Danielle called me that night. She said she was being followed.""
My hands tightened.
"What time?""
"About eight forty-five.""
" of that.""
"Why?""
"Because Danielle called me that night. She said she was being followed.""
My hands tightened.
"What time?""
"About eight forty-five.""
"Do you still have the call?""
"Yes. I saved the voicemail.""
"Send it to me.""
"I will.""
A fewDo you still have the call?""
"Yes. I saved the voicemail.""
"Send it to me.""
"I will.""
A few minutes later, a recording arrived.
I pressed play.
Danielle's voice filled the kitchen.
"Gregory, it's me. I think someone is following me minutes later, a recording arrived.
I pressed play.
Danielle's voice filled the kitchen.
"Gregory, it's me. I think someone is following me again. I'm heading toward the old bridge. I don't want to go home until I've spoken to you.""
again. I'm heading toward the old bridge. I don't want to go home until I've spoken to you.""
There was a pause.
Then her voice became quieter.
"If anything happens, please make sure Marcus knows I loved him.There was a pause.
Then her voice became quieter.
"If anything happens, please make sure Marcus knows I loved him. And please tell him the children were never part of any of this.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the phone.
And please tell him the children were never part of any of this.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the phone.
My wife had known she was in danger.
She had tried to reach someone.
And I had never heard her final message.
My mother began sobbing.
"IMy wife had known she was in danger.
She had tried to reach someone.
And I had never heard her final message.
My mother began sobbing.
"I didn't know she had called him.""
I turned toward her.
"Would it have mattered?""
She couldn't answer.
The police arrived didn't know she had called him.""
I turned toward her.
"Would it have mattered?""
She couldn't answer.
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Two officers spoke with my mother while another took Daniel's statement.
I gave them the recordings, the insurance documents, and Gregory's voicemail.
Then I asked whether they could reopen twenty minutes later.
Two officers spoke with my mother while another took Daniel's statement.
I gave them the recordings, the insurance documents, and Gregory's voicemail.
Then I asked whether they could reopen the accident investigation.
The older officer nodded.
"We'll need to verify the evidence, Mr. Reed. But there are enough inconsist the accident investigation.
The older officer nodded.
"We'll need to verify the evidence, Mr. Reed. But there are enough inconsistencies here to justify further examination.""
"Can you locate my father?""
"We're working on that.""
I looked at my phone.
There wereencies here to justify further examination.""
"Can you locate my father?""
"We're working on that.""
I looked at my phone.
There were three missed calls from an unknown number.
Then another message arrived.
**Your father knows you've found the documents. Don't let him near three missed calls from an unknown number.
Then another message arrived.
*Your father knows you've found the documents. Don't let him near the children.*
I showed the officer.
He asked whether I recognized the number.
I shook my head.
A few minutes later, my phone rang the children.**
I showed the officer.
He asked whether I recognized the number.
I shook my head.
A few minutes later, my phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed my father's name.
I stared at it.
My mother looked up.
"Marcus, again.
This time, the caller ID displayed my father's name.
I stared at it.
My mother looked up.
"Marcus, don't answer.""
But I did.
"Dad.""
His voice was calm.
Almost cheerful.
"Son. don't answer.""
But I did.
"Dad.""
His voice was calm.
Almost cheerful.
"Son. I hear you've been asking questions.""
I looked toward Daniel.
"Where are you?""
"That's not important.""
"Did you follow Danielle the I hear you've been asking questions.""
I looked toward Daniel.
"Where are you?""
"That's not important.""
"Did you follow Danielle the night she died?""
A long silence.
Then he laughed softly.
"Your mother has always been dramatic.""
"Did you?""
"Marcus, listen to me. There are things about that night you night she died?""
A long silence.
Then he laughed softly.
"Your mother has always been dramatic.""
"Did you?""
"Marcus, listen to me. There are things about that night you don't understand.""
"Then explain them.""
"I was trying to save the family.""
"From what?""
"From Danielle destroying everything.""
I closed don't understand.""
"Then explain them.""
"I was trying to save the family.""
"From what?""
"From Danielle destroying everything.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you hit her car?""
Silence.
Then my father said something I would never forget.
"She my eyes.
"Did you hit her car?""
Silence.
Then my father said something I would never forget.
"She was alive when I left.""
My entire body went cold.
"What?""
"She was alive, Marcus. She was angry, confused, but she was was alive when I left.""
My entire body went cold.
"What?""
"She was alive, Marcus. She was angry, confused, but she was alive.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then why did you leave her?""
"Because I panicked.""
I felt something inside alive.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then why did you leave her?""
"Because I panicked.""
I felt something inside me break.
"You left my wife on the road?""
"She was threatening to report me. She said me break.
"You left my wife on the road?""
"She was threatening to report me. She said she had evidence. I thought she was bluffing.""
"Was Tasha with you?""
My father didn't answer.
"Was she in she had evidence. I thought she was bluffing.""
"Was Tasha with you?""
My father didn't answer.
"Was she in the car?""
"She came later.""
"Later?""
"Marcus, you need to understand—"
I cut him off.
"Did you call an ambulance?""
Sil the car?""
"She came later.""
"Later?""
"Marcus, you need to understand—"
I cut him off.
"Did you call an ambulance?""
Silence.
Then he whispered:
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
For six years, I'd believed another driver had killed my wife.
For six years, I'dence.
Then he whispered:
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
For six years, I'd believed another driver had killed my wife.
For six years, I'd thanked the police for finding the person responsible.
For six years, my children had grown up believing their mother had died in an unavoidable accident.
And now my father was telling thanked the police for finding the person responsible.
For six years, my children had grown up believing their mother had died in an unavoidable accident.
And now my father was telling me he had left her injured on the side of the road.
"Why?""
His voice cracked.
"Because I thought she was dead.""
"Then why me he had left her injured on the side of the road.
"Why?""
His voice cracked.
"Because I thought she was dead.""
"Then why did you tell Mom she was alive?""
"I didn't know what to think.""
I could hear him breathing.
Then he said:
"Marcus, I did you tell Mom she was alive?""
"I didn't know what to think.""
I could hear him breathing.
Then he said:
"Marcus, I made a terrible mistake. But Tasha was the one who told me what to do afterward.""
I looked toward the officer.
"Explain.""
"She said we had to keep the original story. She said if the police discovered why made a terrible mistake. But Tasha was the one who told me what to do afterward.""
I looked toward the officer.
"Explain.""
"She said we had to keep the original story. She said if the police discovered why we were there, the insurance investigation would destroy us all.""
I felt sick.
"Where is Tasha now?""
"I don't know.""
" we were there, the insurance investigation would destroy us all.""
I felt sick.
"Where is Tasha now?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
My father lowered his voice.
"She came to see me yesterday.""
MyDon't lie to me.""
My father lowered his voice.
"She came to see me yesterday.""
My heart stopped.
"Why?""
"She said you were getting too close.""
The call disconnected.
I stared heart stopped.
"Why?""
"She said you were getting too close.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Then the officer stepped toward me.
"Mr. Reed, we need to speak to your father immediately.""
He at the screen.
Then the officer stepped toward me.
"Mr. Reed, we need to speak to your father immediately.""
He made another call.
But before he could finish, a second officer rushed through the front door.
"We have a made another call.
But before he could finish, a second officer rushed through the front door.
"We have a development.""
Everyone turned.
He looked at me.
"We've located your father.""
"Where?""
"At the county hospital.""
" development.""
Everyone turned.
He looked at me.
"We've located your father.""
"Where?""
"At the county hospital.""
"Why?""
The officer hesitated.
"Someone reported that he was injured in a vehicle incident.""
My stomach tightenedWhy?""
The officer hesitated.
"Someone reported that he was injured in a vehicle incident.""
My stomach tightened.
"Is he alive?""
"Yes. But there's something else.""
He handed me a photograph.
It showed a dark sedan with a shattered windshield.
The driver's door was open.
And on the passenger seat was a leather handbag.
"Is he alive?""
"Yes. But there's something else.""
He handed me a photograph.
It showed a dark sedan with a shattered windshield.
The driver's door was open.
And on the passenger seat was a leather handbag.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to Tasha.
The officer looked at me.
"Mr. Reed, we believe your wife may have been with.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to Tasha.
The officer looked at me.
"Mr. Reed, we believe your wife may have been with your father when his vehicle was attacked.""
I stared at the photograph.
Then he added:
"Your wife has disappeared.""
## Chapter your father when his vehicle was attacked.""
I stared at the photograph.
May you like
Then he added:
"Your wife has disappeared.""
