Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Marcus drove to the address alone.
He had considered calling the police.
Calling a lawyer.
Calling anyone who could tell him what to do.
But something stopped him.
He needed answers.
Not assumptions.
Not another person’s version.
Answers.
The address belonged to an old office building downtown.
The kind of place that looked expensive from the outside but forgotten inside.
The receptionist looked up when Marcus entered.
“Can I help you?””
“I’m here to see Daniel Carter.””
The woman checked her screen.
“Do you have an appointment?””
“No.””
She hesitated.
“Then I’m afraid—”
“He knows who I am.””
The receptionist studied him.
Then picked up the phone.
A few moments later, she nodded.
“Third floor.””
Marcus stepped into the elevator.
His reflection stared back.
He barely recognized himself.
Twenty-four hours ago, he thought his biggest problem was a difficult conversation with his wife.
Now he was standing in the middle of a custody battle involving secrets from six years ago.
When the elevator opened, Daniel was waiting.
“You came.””
Marcus stepped out.
“You knew I would.””
Daniel smiled faintly.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because you care about her.””
Marcus disliked how easily Daniel said it.
Like he understood Marcus.
Like he had a right to.
“Where’s Vanessa?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“I don’t know.””
“She left.””
“I assumed she would.””
Marcus stared.
“You expected that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel walked toward his office.
“Because Vanessa has always disappeared when the truth gets close.””
Marcus followed.
“You seem very confident for someone who abandoned his daughter.””
Daniel stopped.
The room became quiet.
Then Daniel said,
“You’re right.””
The admission surprised Marcus.
“I made mistakes.””
“You made more than mistakes.””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked down.
“But I’m not the only one.””
Marcus crossed his arms.
“Explain.””
Daniel opened a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
Records.
Marcus didn’t touch them.
“What is this?””
“Evidence.””
“Of what?””
“Vanessa’s lies.””
Marcus stared.
“Convenient.””
Daniel smiled sadly.
“You think I’m manipulating you.””
“Aren’t you?””
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said,
“If I wanted to manipulate you, I wouldn’t tell you this.””
He pushed a document across the desk.
Marcus looked down.
It was a medical report.
Emily Carter.
His eyes narrowed.
“What is this?””
“Your wife knew about this.””
Marcus looked up.
“Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
“What does it mean?””
Daniel leaned back.
“Emily wasn’t dying when Vanessa told everyone she was.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
“She was sick.””
Daniel chose his words carefully.
“But she was recovering.””
Marcus stared at the paper.
“That’s impossible.””
“It’s not.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I was there.””
The room felt smaller.
Daniel continued.
“Emily and I were trying to rebuild our relationship with Nia.””
Marcus looked up.
“Then why didn’t it happen?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Because Vanessa stopped it.””
Marcus said nothing.
Daniel opened another file.
Inside was an email.
A message.
From Vanessa.
Marcus read the first line.
“Do not contact Nia again.””
His hands went cold.
“Date?””
Daniel answered.
“Four months after Emily’s diagnosis.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Why?””
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“Because Vanessa believed if Emily came back, she would lose Nia.””
Marcus felt sick.
He thought about the bruised wrist.
The locked box.
The letter.
The years.
Then Daniel said something that made him look up.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
“Emily didn’t write one letter.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“She wrote three.””
“Where are they?””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“I only know where one is.””
“Where?””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“With the person Vanessa trusted most.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“Who?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Instead, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Then his face changed.
Marcus noticed.
“What?””
Daniel slowly turned the phone around.
A message was displayed.
One sentence.
One name.
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
Because the person who had sent the message was not Vanessa.
It was Caleb.
May you like
The message said:
“Dad, I found Mom’s hidden drawer.””
