Chapter 9: The Woman Who Knew Everything
Tasha had vanished.
By noon, the police had searched the house, contacted her workplace 9: The Woman Who Knew Everything
Tasha had vanished.
By noon, the police had searched the house, contacted her workplace, and questioned several people who had seen her recently.
Her car was missing.
Her phone was switched off.
And, and questioned several people who had seen her recently.
Her car was missing.
Her phone was switched off.
And nobody knew where she had gone.
My father was still in the hospital.
He had suffered a head injury and several broken ribs after his car left the road and struck nobody knew where she had gone.
My father was still in the hospital.
He had suffered a head injury and several broken ribs after his car left the road and struck a concrete barrier.
The police initially believed it was an accident.
But after reviewing the vehicle, they discovered that one of the brake lines a concrete barrier.
The police initially believed it was an accident.
But after reviewing the vehicle, they discovered that one of the brake lines had been deliberately damaged.
Someone had tried to kill him.
And the passenger seat contained Tasha's handbag.
I sat in the hospital waiting room with had been deliberately damaged.
Someone had tried to kill him.
And the passenger seat contained Tasha's handbag.
I sat in the hospital waiting room with Daniel.
My mother had gone home with the children under police supervision.
I hadn't slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Danielle's voicemail Daniel.
My mother had gone home with the children under police supervision.
I hadn't slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Danielle's voicemail.
Please make sure Marcus knows I loved him.
I had spent six years thinking I'd lost my wife because of a stranger's.
Please make sure Marcus knows I loved him.
I had spent six years thinking I'd lost my wife because of a stranger's mistake.
Now I was beginning to understand that the truth had been sitting in my family the entire time.
A nurse approached.
" mistake.
Now I was beginning to understand that the truth had been sitting in my family the entire time.
A nurse approached.
"Mr. Reed?""
I stood.
"Yes?""
"Your father is awake. He has asked to see you.""
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
"WeMr. Reed?""
I stood.
"Yes?""
"Your father is awake. He has asked to see you.""
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
"We'll go in together.""
My father was lying in a hospital bed with a bandage around his forehead.
His face looked older than I remembered.
When'll go in together.""
My father was lying in a hospital bed with a bandage around his forehead.
His face looked older than I remembered.
When he saw me, he tried to smile.
"Son.""
I stood at the foot of the bed.
"Don't call me that.""
His smile he saw me, he tried to smile.
"Son.""
I stood at the foot of the bed.
"Don't call me that.""
His smile disappeared.
"Marcus, please.""
"Did you leave my wife to die?""
He looked toward the window.
disappeared.
"Marcus, please.""
"Did you leave my wife to die?""
He looked toward the window.
"I've already told the police what happened.""
"I want to hear it from you.""
My father closed his eyes.
"I"I've already told the police what happened.""
"I want to hear it from you.""
My father closed his eyes.
"I was driving behind Danielle that night. I wanted to talk to her.""
"About the insurance?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"She had was driving behind Danielle that night. I wanted to talk to her.""
"About the insurance?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"She had threatened to expose everything.""
"Because you stole money from her children.""
He fl threatened to expose everything.""
"Because you stole money from her children.""
He flinched.
"I made a mistake.""
"You forged her signature.""
"I know.""
"You followed her.""
"I wanted to explain.""
"And theninched.
"I made a mistake.""
"You forged her signature.""
"I know.""
"You followed her.""
"I wanted to explain.""
"And then you hit her car?""
He began crying.
"It happened so quickly.""
I stared at him.
"Tell me.""
He swallowed you hit her car?""
He began crying.
"It happened so quickly.""
I stared at him.
"Tell me.""
He swallowed.
"She stopped near the old bridge. I pulled up behind her. We argued. She said she was going to the police.""
"What did you do?""
.
"She stopped near the old bridge. I pulled up behind her. We argued. She said she was going to the police.""
"What did you do?""
"I tried to take the folder from her.""
"And?""
"She pushed me.""
He covered his face.
"I grabbed her arm. She"I tried to take the folder from her.""
"And?""
"She pushed me.""
He covered his face.
"I grabbed her arm. She pulled away. Then she stumbled into the road.""
I felt sick.
"Was she hit by pulled away. Then she stumbled into the road.""
I felt sick.
"Was she hit by your car?""
He nodded.
"She fell. Her head struck the pavement.""
I gripped the bedrail.
"Was she breathing?""
"Yes.""
"Did she speak?""
He nodded again.
"What your car?""
He nodded.
"She fell. Her head struck the pavement.""
I gripped the bedrail.
"Was she breathing?""
"Yes.""
"Did she speak?""
He nodded again.
"What did she say?""
My father began sobbing.
"She asked me to call you.""
I closed my eyes.
"She asked you to call me?""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't?""
"I was terrified.""
I did she say?""
My father began sobbing.
"She asked me to call you.""
I closed my eyes.
"She asked you to call me?""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't?""
"I was terrified.""
I stared at him.
"You left her there.""
He covered his face.
"I know.""
"Why didn't you call an ambulance?""
He didn't answer.
"Why didn't you save her?""
My father's voice was barely audible.
" stared at him.
"You left her there.""
He covered his face.
"I know.""
"Why didn't you call an ambulance?""
He didn't answer.
"Why didn't you save her?""
My father's voice was barely audible.
"Because Tasha arrived.""
I went completely still.
"What?""
"She had followed us. She said she would handle everything.""
I leanedBecause Tasha arrived.""
I went completely still.
"What?""
"She had followed us. She said she would handle everything.""
I leaned forward.
"What does that mean?""
"She checked Danielle. She said the injury was serious. Then she told me to leave forward.
"What does that mean?""
"She checked Danielle. She said the injury was serious. Then she told me to leave.""
I stared at him.
"Did Danielle die there?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
"Did Tasha call for.""
I stared at him.
"Did Danielle die there?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
"Did Tasha call for help?""
He looked at me.
"I don't know.""
I stepped away from the bed.
Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Marcus, we need to let him finish.""
help?""
He looked at me.
"I don't know.""
I stepped away from the bed.
Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Marcus, we need to let him finish.""
I turned back.
"Where did Tasha go afterward?""
My father looked down.
"She said she hadI turned back.
"Where did Tasha go afterward?""
My father looked down.
"She said she had someone who could take care of the situation.""
"Who?""
"I never knew his name.""
"Then how did someone who could take care of the situation.""
"Who?""
"I never knew his name.""
"Then how did you contact him?""
My father swallowed.
"Through the hospital.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"The hospital where Danielle worked?""
He you contact him?""
My father swallowed.
"Through the hospital.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"The hospital where Danielle worked?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at Daniel.
He immediately understood.
The altered records.
The insurance documents.
The canceled school meetings.
The photograph nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at Daniel.
He immediately understood.
The altered records.
The insurance documents.
The canceled school meetings.
The photograph.
All of it might have been connected to a much larger arrangement.
"Did Tasha tell you Danielle was dead?""
My father.
All of it might have been connected to a much larger arrangement.
"Did Tasha tell you Danielle was dead?""
My father nodded.
"She said the police had found her.""
"That's impossible. The police report says another nodded.
"She said the police had found her.""
"That's impossible. The police report says another driver hit her.""
He looked confused.
"That's what they told me.""
I stared.
"Who told you?""
"An officer.""
" driver hit her.""
He looked confused.
"That's what they told me.""
I stared.
"Who told you?""
"An officer.""
"Which officer?""
My father hesitated.
Then he said:
"Detective Whitmore.""
I felt my stomach dropWhich officer?""
My father hesitated.
Then he said:
"Detective Whitmore.""
I felt my stomach drop.
The same detective who had handled the original accident.
The same man Gregory said had discouraged him from asking questions.
I turned toward Daniel.
The same detective who had handled the original accident.
The same man Gregory said had discouraged him from asking questions.
I turned toward Daniel.
"We need to contact the investigators.""
He nodded.
Before we could leave, my father reached for my hand.
"Marcus.""
I looked at him.
".
"We need to contact the investigators.""
He nodded.
Before we could leave, my father reached for my hand.
"Marcus.""
I looked at him.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
He struggled to speak.
"Tasha told me she had a plan.""
"What plan?""
"She said if you everThere's something else.""
"What?""
He struggled to speak.
"Tasha told me she had a plan.""
"What plan?""
"She said if you ever discovered the truth, she'd make sure you lost everything.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Why?""
"Because she said you discovered the truth, she'd make sure you lost everything.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Why?""
"Because she said you would never choose her over Danielle's children.""
I stared at him.
My father lowered his voice.
"She said she had already arranged for would never choose her over Danielle's children.""
I stared at him.
My father lowered his voice.
"She said she had already arranged for someone to make sure you couldn't prove anything.""
Daniel immediately called the police.
Within minutes, two investigators arrived.
They questioned my father someone to make sure you couldn't prove anything.""
Daniel immediately called the police.
Within minutes, two investigators arrived.
They questioned my father separately.
I waited outside.
Then my phone rang.
It was Gregory.
"Marcus, I found something.""
"What?""
"An old hospital security recording separately.
I waited outside.
Then my phone rang.
It was Gregory.
"Marcus, I found something.""
"What?""
"An old hospital security recording.""
"Where?""
"In an archive that was never transferred to the current system.""
"What does it show?""
"Your wife.""
I stood.
"Danielle?""
"Yes..""
"Where?""
"In an archive that was never transferred to the current system.""
"What does it show?""
"Your wife.""
I stood.
"Danielle?""
"Yes. On the night she died.""
My chest tightened.
"Where?""
"At the hospital.""
I stared at the corridor.
"That's impossible. The police said she died On the night she died.""
My chest tightened.
"Where?""
"At the hospital.""
I stared at the corridor.
"That's impossible. The police said she died at the accident scene.""
Gregory paused.
"That's what I thought too.""
"Explain.""
"The recording shows Danielle being brought into the hospital at 10:42 p.m.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Was she alive?""
" at the accident scene.""
Gregory paused.
"That's what I thought too.""
"Explain.""
"The recording shows Danielle being brought into the hospital at 10:42 p.m.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Was she alive?""
"Marcus...""
"Was she alive?""
Gregory took a breath.
"Yes.""
I gripped the wall.
"Then what happened?""
"She was taken through the emergency entrance. A woman accompaniedMarcus...""
"Was she alive?""
Gregory took a breath.
"Yes.""
I gripped the wall.
"Then what happened?""
"She was taken through the emergency entrance. A woman accompanied her.""
"Who?""
"I've been trying to identify her.""
"Do you have the footage?""
"Yes. But there's a problem.""
"What?""
"The hospital archive her.""
"Who?""
"I've been trying to identify her.""
"Do you have the footage?""
"Yes. But there's a problem.""
"What?""
"The hospital archive shows that the recording was accessed and deleted the following morning.""
"By whom?""
Gregory went silent.
Then he shows that the recording was accessed and deleted the following morning.""
"By whom?""
Gregory went silent.
Then he said:
"Detective Aaron Whitmore.""
I closed my eyes.
For six years, I had trusted the report written by the man who might said:
"Detective Aaron Whitmore.""
I closed my eyes.
For six years, I had trusted the report written by the man who might have helped conceal my wife's final hours.
"Gregory, send me everything.""
"I will.""
"Can you identify the woman?""
have helped conceal my wife's final hours.
"Gregory, send me everything.""
"I will.""
"Can you identify the woman?""
He hesitated.
"Not yet.""
"Then how do you know she was there?""
"Because the footage captures her face for three seconds.""
My phone vibrated.
A video file appeared.
IHe hesitated.
"Not yet.""
"Then how do you know she was there?""
"Because the footage captures her face for three seconds.""
My phone vibrated.
A video file appeared.
I opened it.
The recording was grainy.
A hospital corridor.
Two orderlies pushing a stretcher.
A woman walking opened it.
The recording was grainy.
A hospital corridor.
Two orderlies pushing a stretcher.
A woman walking beside them.
I enlarged the image.
The woman's face became clearer.
I recognized her immediately.
It was Tasha.
But something else caught my attention beside them.
I enlarged the image.
The woman's face became clearer.
I recognized her immediately.
It was Tasha.
But something else caught my attention.
She was holding a small envelope.
And on the envelope was a name.
*MARCUS REED.*
My hands.
She was holding a small envelope.
And on the envelope was a name.
*MARCUS REED.*
My hands began shaking.
Why would Tasha have an envelope addressed to me on the night Danielle died?
I replayed the footage.
This time, I noticed something in the background.
A nurse standing near the emergency desk began shaking.
Why would Tasha have an envelope addressed to me on the night Danielle died?
I replayed the footage.
This time, I noticed something in the background.
A nurse standing near the emergency desk.
She was looking directly at the camera.
Gregory sent another message.
**I know the nurse. Her name is Patricia Cole.
She was looking directly at the camera.
Gregory sent another message.
*I know the nurse. Her name is Patricia Cole. She worked that night. She left the hospital two years ago.*
I immediately called him.
"Find her.""
"I'm trying.""
"Greg. She worked that night. She left the hospital two years ago.**
I immediately called him.
"Find her.""
"I'm trying.""
"Gregory, she may be the only person who knows what happened to Danielle.""
"I understand.""
I ended the call.
Then I turnedory, she may be the only person who knows what happened to Danielle.""
"I understand.""
I ended the call.
Then I turned toward the hospital room.
My father was still inside with the investigators.
I didn't know whether I could ever forgive him.
But I knew I needed the toward the hospital room.
My father was still inside with the investigators.
I didn't know whether I could ever forgive him.
But I knew I needed the truth.
Two hours later, Daniel received a call from the police.
They had located Tasha's vehicle.
It was parked outside a motel nearly truth.
Two hours later, Daniel received a call from the police.
They had located Tasha's vehicle.
It was parked outside a motel nearly forty miles away.
But the room was empty.
There were no clothes.
No luggage.
No identification.
Only a laptop and forty miles away.
But the room was empty.
There were no clothes.
No luggage.
No identification.
Only a laptop and a small black notebook.
The police had obtained permission to examine both.
They found several a small black notebook.
The police had obtained permission to examine both.
They found several financial records.
They also found a list of names.
My name.
My father's name.
Gregory Vale.
Detective Whitmore.
And one name I didn't financial records.
They also found a list of names.
My name.
My father's name.
Gregory Vale.
Detective Whitmore.
And one name I didn't recognize.
*Patricia Cole.*
Beside it were three handwritten words:
*SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.*
I stared at the page.
Then Daniel pointed to the final entry.
It was dated recognize.
*Patricia Cole.*
Beside it were three handwritten words:
*SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.*
I stared at the page.
Then Daniel pointed to the final entry.
It was dated the previous week.
The handwriting was unmistakably Tasha's.
**If Marcus finds the previous week.
The handwriting was unmistakably Tasha's.
*If Marcus finds the hospital footage, Patricia must disappear.*
I looked at him.
"Where is Patricia now?""
The officer on the phone answered.
"That's the problem the hospital footage, Patricia must disappear.**
I looked at him.
"Where is Patricia now?""
The officer on the phone answered.
"That's the problem, Mr. Reed.""
"What's happened?""
"Her apartment is empty.""
My blood, Mr. Reed.""
"What's happened?""
"Her apartment is empty.""
My blood ran cold.
"Has anyone contacted her?""
"We're trying.""
Then the officer added:
"There's one more thing you should know. Patricia Cole called the ran cold.
"Has anyone contacted her?""
"We're trying.""
Then the officer added:
"There's one more thing you should know. Patricia Cole called the police station this morning.""
I held my breath.
"What did she say?""
" police station this morning.""
I held my breath.
"What did she say?""
"She asked for protection.""
"From whom?""
The officer paused.
"She said a woman named Tasha Morgan had been following her.""
I looked at the notebook.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
IShe asked for protection.""
"From whom?""
The officer paused.
"She said a woman named Tasha Morgan had been following her.""
I looked at the notebook.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's trembling voice whispered:
"Mr. Reed? My name is Patricia Cole.""
I stood.
"Where are you?""
"I answered.
A woman's trembling voice whispered:
"Mr. Reed? My name is Patricia Cole.""
I stood.
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you over the phone.""
"Are you safe?""
"For now.""
I looked at Daniel.
Patricia began crying.
"Your can't tell you over the phone.""
"Are you safe?""
"For now.""
I looked at Daniel.
Patricia began crying.
"Your wife didn't die when everyone told you she did.""
I closed my eyes.
"Tell me what happened.""
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"She was alive when we wife didn't die when everyone told you she did.""
I closed my eyes.
"Tell me what happened.""
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"She was alive when we brought her into the hospital. She was conscious. She kept asking for you.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Why brought her into the hospital. She was conscious. She kept asking for you.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Why didn't anyone call me?""
"Because Detective Whitmore ordered us not to.""
"Why?""
Patricia hesitated.
Then she said:
" didn't anyone call me?""
"Because Detective Whitmore ordered us not to.""
"Why?""
Patricia hesitated.
Then she said:
"Because Tasha told him that if Danielle survived, she would expose what they had done.""
I gripped the phone.
Because Tasha told him that if Danielle survived, she would expose what they had done.""
I gripped the phone.
"What did they do?""
Patricia began crying harder.
"Mr. Reed, your wife wasn't the only person they"What did they do?""
Patricia began crying harder.
"Mr. Reed, your wife wasn't the only person they were trying to silence.""
A door slammed somewhere near her.
She gasped.
"Someone were trying to silence.""
A door slammed somewhere near her.
She gasped.
"Someone's here.""
"Patricia?""
"Listen to me. Danielle gave me something that night. Something she wanted's here.""
"Patricia?""
"Listen to me. Danielle gave me something that night. Something she wanted you to have.""
"What?""
"An envelope.""
I looked at the video again.
The envelope in you to have.""
"What?""
"An envelope.""
I looked at the video again.
The envelope in Tasha's hand.
"Where is it?""
Patricia whispered:
"Inside the old hospital chapel. Behind the Tasha's hand.
"Where is it?""
Patricia whispered:
"Inside the old hospital chapel. Behind the wooden cross.""
Then the call went dead.
I immediately called the police.
But before I could explain what Patricia had told me, another message arrived.
It was from wooden cross.""
Then the call went dead.
I immediately called the police.
But before I could explain what Patricia had told me, another message arrived.
It was from Tasha.
*You wanted the truth, Marcus. Come alone.*
A second message followed.
*And bring Danielle's letter.*
I stared at the screen.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed I Tasha.
*You wanted the truth, Marcus. Come alone.*
A second message followed.
*And bring Danielle's letter.*
I stared at the screen.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed Imani and Caleb sitting in the back seat of a car.
My children.
The photograph had been taken that afternoon.
And beneath it weremani and Caleb sitting in the back seat of a car.
My children.
The photograph had been taken that afternoon.
And beneath it were six words:
*I KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE.*
May you like
six words:
*I KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE.*
