Chapter 10: The Name Hidden in the Past
Marcus stayed silent after Rachel’s words.
The phone felt cold against his ear.
“Someone else?””
Rachel didn’t answer immediately.
“Who?””
Her breathing became uneven.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this.””
Marcus looked at Nia sitting on the stairs.
She was watching him.
Waiting.
Every secret.
Every unanswered question.
Every adult decision.
They had all led to this moment.
“You need to tell me,” Marcus said.
“I know.””
“Then do it.””
Rachel sighed.
“Not over the phone.””
Marcus looked around the house.
“Where?””
“There’s a coffee shop near the old courthouse. Fifteen minutes.””
“I’ll be there.””
He hung up.
Nia stood immediately.
“Who was that?””
Marcus walked toward her.
“Someone who knew your mom.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Another person who knows things I don’t?””
The question hurt because it was true.
Marcus crouched down.
“This time, you’ll hear everything.””
She studied his face.
“Promise?””
He nodded.
“Promise.””
The coffee shop was almost empty when Marcus arrived.
Rachel was sitting in the corner.
She looked nothing like he expected.
She wasn’t intimidating.
She wasn’t mysterious.
She looked tired.
Like someone who had carried a secret for too long.
When she saw Marcus, she immediately stood.
“You look like Emily said you would.””
Marcus stopped.
“You knew Emily well?””
Rachel looked down.
“Yes.””
“How?””
She sat back down.
“I was her nurse.””
Marcus froze.
“Nurse?””
Rachel nodded.
“During the last months.””
Marcus sat across from her.
“Vanessa said Emily was gone before she could come back.””
Rachel’s expression changed.
“That was not the truth.””
Marcus’s hands tightened.
“Then tell me.””
Rachel looked out the window.
“Emily found out she had a serious illness after she and Daniel separated.””
Marcus listened carefully.
“She was scared. Not of dying.””
Rachel looked at him.
“She was scared of what would happen to Nia.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel wanted custody.””
Marcus frowned.
“He was her father.””
“Yes.””
“But?””
Rachel hesitated.
“But Emily didn’t trust him.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Why?””
Rachel lowered her voice.
“Because Daniel wasn’t the only person fighting for Nia.””
Marcus felt a familiar coldness.
“Who else?””
Rachel looked directly at him.
“Vanessa.””
Marcus shook his head.
“She was raising Nia.””
“She was.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
Rachel nodded.
“I know.””
She opened her bag.
Then pulled out a small folder.
“I kept copies because Emily asked me to.””
Marcus stared.
“Of what?””
“Everything.””
Inside were letters.
Medical records.
Photos.
The first letter was dated six years earlier.
Marcus read.
“Emily Carter to Rachel Mills.””
His eyes moved down.
Then stopped.
“Vanessa is becoming obsessed with keeping Nia.””
Marcus looked up.
Rachel nodded.
“Keep reading.””
He did.
The letter explained that Vanessa had become increasingly controlling.
She wanted to be the only parent Nia remembered.
She wanted Nia to believe her biological parents had abandoned her.
Marcus felt sick.
“Why didn’t Emily stop her?””
Rachel’s eyes filled with sadness.
“She tried.””
“How?””
“She went to court.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Then why did Vanessa get custody?””
Rachel looked down.
“Because Emily disappeared before the hearing.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
“She never showed up.””
“Why?””
Rachel’s silence answered before her words did.
“She was hospitalized.””
Marcus stared.
“You mean she didn’t abandon Nia.””
“No.””
“She was sick.””
“Yes.””
“And Vanessa knew.””
Rachel nodded.
“Yes.””
The world seemed to shift.
Marcus looked at the papers again.
“How did nobody know?””
“Because Vanessa told everyone Emily left voluntarily.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
A memory appeared.
Nia at six years old.
Standing at the window.
Waiting.
Asking when her mother would return.
And Marcus remembering Vanessa saying:
“She doesn’t want to come back.””
His stomach turned.
“What happened to Emily?””
Rachel looked away.
“She died three weeks after the court date.””
Marcus swallowed.
“Alone?””
Rachel didn’t answer.
She didn’t have to.
The silence was enough.
Marcus looked at the folder.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Rachel’s voice broke.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Rachel looked at him.
“Because she wasn’t acting alone.””
Marcus froze.
“What does that mean?””
Rachel pushed another document forward.
“This.””
Marcus looked down.
It was an email.
From an address he didn’t recognize.
But the signature at the bottom made his blood run cold.
R.C.
The same initials from the notebook.
“Rachel?””
She shook her head.
“Not me.””
Marcus looked up.
“Then who?””
Rachel whispered:
“Rebecca Carter.””
Marcus frowned.
“Daniel’s family?””
Rachel nodded.
“His sister.””
Marcus looked at the email again.
The message was short.
“We need to make sure Emily cannot interfere.””
His breathing stopped.
“Who wrote this?””
Rachel looked at him.
“Vanessa received it.””
Marcus stared.
“You’re saying Vanessa was working with Daniel’s family?””
“No.””
Rachel shook her head.
“I’m saying someone was using Vanessa.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Who?””
Rachel leaned closer.
“Someone who wanted control over Nia.””
Marcus looked at the papers.
The lies.
The custody fight.
The hidden letters.
Then his phone rang.
It was Caleb.
Marcus answered immediately.
“Caleb?””
The boy’s voice was shaking.
“Dad?””
“What happened?””
“I found Mom.””
Marcus stood.
“Where?””
A pause.
Then Caleb whispered:
“She’s at the old house.””
Marcus frowned.
“What old house?””
May you like
The answer made his blood run cold.
“The one from Mom’s photos.””
