Chapter 8: What Happened in the Car
“Mom.””
She didn't answer.
“Why were you driving that night?””
She sat down.
Her hands trembled in her lap.
“I knew this day would come.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means there are things your father never told you.””
Dad whispered, “Sarah…”
She turned toward him.
“No more.””
Then she looked at me.
“I was leaving him.””
I stared.
“You were leaving Dad?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I discovered what he had been hiding.””
Dad's face tightened.
“I told you I wasn't responsible.””
“For the money,” she said.
“Not for everything else.””
I looked between them.
“What else?””
Mom opened the old leather bag.
She removed a cassette tape.
A tiny handwritten label was stuck to it.
*NIA — IF SHE EVER ASKS.*
My throat tightened.
“What is that?””
“Your father gave it to me.””
Dad looked stunned.
“I never gave you that.””
Mom stared at him.
“You did.””
“No.””
“You gave it to me the morning after the crash.””
Dad shook his head.
“I don't remember.””
“You wouldn't.””
She placed the cassette on the table.
“What is it?””
“A recording.””
“Of what?””
Mom's eyes met mine.
“Your father.””
Dad stood abruptly.
“Sarah, stop.””
She didn't.
“He was supposed to meet me that night because he wanted to confess.””
“Confess to what?””
Mom pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“He had been paying someone to monitor you.””
My skin prickled.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because someone was looking for you.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
Mom looked at Dad.
He whispered one word.
“Michael.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It will.””
Mom pushed the cassette toward me.
“Evelyn has a player.””
I stared at the tape.
“You expect me to drive to another state just to listen to this?””
“No.””
She reached into her bag again.
She removed a small digital recorder.
“I transferred it years ago.””
She pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then Dad's voice.
Younger.
Terrified.
“Sarah, if you hear this, don't come home.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
The recording continued.
“Michael knows about Nia.””
A pause.
“He thinks she has something.””
Mom covered her mouth.
Dad stood completely still.
The voice continued.
“I don't know what he means. I don't know what he's looking for.””
Then another voice.
Michael.
“You should have listened to me, Daniel.””
The recording became muffled.
There was a crash.
A scream.
Then Dad's voice.
“Get away from her!””
The recording stopped.
I looked at him.
“What was that?””
“I don't know.””
“You were there.””
“I don't remember.””
“You just said you don't remember.””
“I was injured.””
Mom whispered, “He was drugged.””
I turned.
“Drugged?””
She nodded.
“Michael put something in his drink.””
Dad looked at her.
“You knew?””
“I woke up in the hospital.””
“Then how did you survive?””
Mom's eyes filled.
“Evelyn.””
I understood.
“Evelyn got you out.””
“Yes.””
“And Dad?””
“He thought I was dead.””
Dad stared at her.
“You disappeared.””
“I was afraid.””
“You could have called.””
“I did.””
He shook his head.
“No.””
“I called every day for six months.””
My heart sank.
“You called?””
Mom nodded.
“Your father never told me.””
Dad looked confused.
“I never received those calls.””
“Because Vanessa intercepted them.””
Silence.
I felt cold.
“Vanessa?””
Mom nodded.
“She changed the number.””
Dad sat down.
His hands were shaking.
“I trusted her.””
“You shouldn't have.””
He looked at me.
“I know.””
I looked at the recorder.
“Why would Michael care about me?””
Mom hesitated.
“That is the part I was afraid to tell you.””
I waited.
She reached for my hand.
“You were born with a trust.””
I blinked.
“What?””
“A financial trust.””
“For me?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
She looked away.
“I don't know exactly.””
Dad answered.
“More than enough to pay for your entire education.””
I stared at him.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“And you told me college was impossible.””
His eyes closed.
“I was wrong.””
“No.””
I stood.
“You weren't wrong.””
My voice shook.
“You lied.””
He nodded.
“I did.””
Mom squeezed my hand.
“The trust wasn't the real danger.””
“What was?””
“The person who created it.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
She whispered a name.
“Your grandfather.””
I frowned.
“My grandfather died before I was born.””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“He didn't leave you money because he loved you.””
She looked toward Dad.
“He left it because he knew someone would come looking for it.””
A car door slammed outside.
Dad jumped to his feet.
We all froze.
Headlights swept across the living room wall.
A vehicle stopped in front of the house.
I looked through the curtains.
A black sedan.
Someone got out.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I opened the message.
*Don't let Sarah leave with you.*
Another message appeared immediately.
*She knows who caused the crash.*
I turned toward my mother.
“Who caused the crash?””
She looked at me.
And for the first time since she walked through our door, she looked more frightened of my question than of anything else.
Then someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
May you like
Dad whispered:
“Michael.””
