Chapter 8: The Friend Who Knew Too Much
I read Emily’s letter three times.
I wanted the words to change.
I wanted my eyes to be wrong.
But they weren’t.
The name remained.
The person Emily suspected.
The person she believed was helping Vanessa.
My best friend.
Marcus.
I sat on the floor holding the letter.
For years, Marcus had been the person I trusted most after losing Emily.
He was there at the hospital.
He helped me move.
He helped me raise Lily.
He was the one person I believed had no reason to lie.
And now Emily’s handwriting was telling me he might have been part of something bigger.
“No.””
I said it out loud.
Like the word could make it disappear.
Lily appeared in the doorway.
“Daddy?””
I quickly folded the paper.
“What are you doing awake?””
She shrugged.
“I wanted cereal.””
I forced a smile.
“Okay.””
But she looked at me carefully.
“You’re sad.””
I hated that she noticed everything.
“I’m just thinking.””
“About Mommy?””
I nodded.
“Yeah.””
She walked over and hugged me.
“Mommy would want you to be happy.””
I closed my eyes.
Because that was exactly the problem.
Emily had spent her final days trying to protect us.
And I had spent years ignoring the signs.
After Lily went back to her room, I called Marcus.
He answered quickly.
“Everything okay?””
I listened to his voice.
Searching.
Looking for something.
Anything.
“Where are you?””
“Home.””
“Can I come over?””
A pause.
Small.
But I noticed.
“Sure.””
I arrived twenty minutes later.
Marcus opened the door.
“You look exhausted.””
“I found something.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
I walked inside.
Then I placed the red folder on the table.
Marcus stared at it.
Not at me.
At the folder.
And that was enough.
“You know this?””
He looked up.
“What?””
“You recognized it.””
“No.””
“You did.””
His face tightened.
“James, what is this about?””
I opened the folder.
Then placed Emily’s letter in front of him.
“Tell me why my wife wrote your name.””
The silence was immediate.
Marcus didn’t look angry.
He looked hurt.
That almost made it worse.
“James…”
“Tell me.””
He sat down.
“I can explain.””
I shook my head.
“No more explanations.””
He looked away.
“I should have told you.””
My heart sank.
“Told me what?””
Marcus rubbed his face.
“Emily came to me.””
“When?””
“Before she died.””
I felt numb.
“What did she say?””
“She said she was afraid.””
“Of Vanessa?””
He didn’t answer.
“Marcus.””
“Not just Vanessa.””
I stepped back.
“Then who?””
He looked at me.
“Someone inside your life.””
“Someone like you?””
His face changed.
Pain.
Not anger.
“I knew you would think that.””
“Because your name is in my wife’s warning letter.””
Marcus looked down.
“Emily asked me to investigate.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She thought someone was watching her.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because she made me promise.””
“That’s not your choice to make!””
“I was trying to protect you!””
The same words.
Again.
Always the same words.
I slammed my hand on the table.
“You all keep saying that while destroying my life!””
Marcus went quiet.
Then he said:
“James, Vanessa wasn’t the only one pretending.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
“She knew about Emily’s investigation.””
“How?””
“Because someone gave her information.””
“Who?””
Marcus looked at the folder.
Then at me.
“Someone close.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
A picture.
I opened it.
And my blood turned cold.
It was a photo of Marcus and Vanessa.
Together.
Not recent.
Older.
The date was from before Vanessa and I met.
Underneath was a message.
*Ask him how long he has known her.*
I looked at Marcus.
He saw the picture.
And his face changed.
Not surprise.
Fear.
“James…”
I stepped back.
“How long?””
He swallowed.
“I can explain.””
I laughed bitterly.
“No.””
I pointed at the door.
“You don’t get to say that anymore.””
“Please.””
“How long did you know Vanessa?””
Marcus looked broken.
Then he answered.
“Before you did.””
May you like
The room went silent.
And suddenly every person I trusted had a secret.
