The Stranger Who Left My Name Beneath the Doormat

The: The Nurse Who Remembered

The nurse's name was Patricia Wells.

nurse's name was Patricia Wells.

I knew that because I spent the next twentyI knew that because I spent the next twenty minutes staring at the blue notebook, reading her name until the letters seemed to move on the page.

Pat minutes staring at the blue notebook, reading her name until the letters seemed to move on the page.

Patricia Wells.

A hospital nurse. A witness to whatever had happened during myricia Wells.

A hospital nurse. A witness to whatever had happened during my mother's final forty-eight hours. Someone my father believed knew everything.

And someone whose telephone number he mother's final forty-eight hours. Someone my father believed knew everything.

And someone whose telephone number he had written down but apparently never used.

I sat at the kitchen table while Junie colored had written down but apparently never used.

I sat at the kitchen table while Junie colored beside me, humming a song from her favorite cartoon. Outside, the evening beside me, humming a song from her favorite cartoon. Outside, the evening sun stretched across the garden, turning the wet grass gold.

The ordinary sounds of my house felt almost sun stretched across the garden, turning the wet grass gold.

The ordinary sounds of my house felt almost offensive.

My daughter needed dinner. Her school uniform needed washing offensive.

My daughter needed dinner. Her school uniform needed washing. The electric bill was due on Friday.

And I was sitting there wondering whether my aunt and. The electric bill was due on Friday.

And I was sitting there wondering whether my aunt and my husband had conspired around my mother's death.

"Mommy?""

I looked up.

Junie held my husband had conspired around my mother's death.

"Mommy?""

I looked up.

Junie held out a purple crayon.

"Can you draw a horse?""

I stared at the crayon.

"Right out a purple crayon.

"Can you draw a horse?""

I stared at the crayon.

"Right now?""

"Yes. Mine looks like a potato with legs.""

A laugh escaped me before now?""

"Yes. Mine looks like a potato with legs.""

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"Let me see.""

Her drawing did, in fact, resemble I could stop it.

"Let me see.""

Her drawing did, in fact, resemble a potato with legs.

I took the crayon and drew a horse with an enormous head and a crooked tail.

Jun a potato with legs.

I took the crayon and drew a horse with an enormous head and a crooked tail.

Junie studied it.

"That's worse.""

"Then perhaps you should draw your own horse.""

She gigie studied it.

"That's worse.""

"Then perhaps you should draw your own horse.""

She giggled and returned to her paper.

I watched her for a moment, remembering Daniel's warning.

*If yougled and returned to her paper.

I watched her for a moment, remembering Daniel's warning.

If you find the blue ledger, don't give it to Margaret Ellis.

He had known about the ledger before I had even find the blue ledger, don't give it to Margaret Ellis.*

He had known about the ledger before I had even known it existed.

He had also known that my father was alive.

And he had paid my mother's hospital bill known it existed.

He had also known that my father was alive.

And he had paid my mother's hospital bill.

I opened my phone and searched for Patricia Wells.

The first result was an obituary published three months earlier.

I opened my phone and searched for Patricia Wells.

The first result was an obituary published three months earlier.

My heart sank.

Patricia Wells, aged sixty-eight, retired nurse, beloved mother.

My heart sank.

Patricia Wells, aged sixty-eight, retired nurse, beloved mother and grandmother, died peacefully at her home in a neighboring county.

I read the and grandmother, died peacefully at her home in a neighboring county.

I read the notice twice.

Then I noticed a photograph beneath the text.

A notice twice.

Then I noticed a photograph beneath the text.

A woman with silver hair and kind eyes stood in front of a brick house, holding a little woman with silver hair and kind eyes stood in front of a brick house, holding a little girl on her hip.

She looked nothing like the woman I remembered from my childhood.

girl on her hip.

She looked nothing like the woman I remembered from my childhood.

But there was something familiar about her face.

I opened the blue notebook again and examined the photograph ofBut there was something familiar about her face.

I opened the blue notebook again and examined the photograph of Lorraine and Daniel outside the hospital.

At the edge of the frame, half hidden behind Lorraine's Lorraine and Daniel outside the hospital.

At the edge of the frame, half hidden behind Lorraine's shoulder, stood a woman in a nurse's uniform.

Patricia Wells.

I enlarged the photograph on my phone.

The shoulder, stood a woman in a nurse's uniform.

Patricia Wells.

I enlarged the photograph on my phone.

The woman was looking directly at the camera.

Not smiling.

Not surprised.

Watching.

My fingers went cold.

I called woman was looking directly at the camera.

Not smiling.

Not surprised.

Watching.

My fingers went cold.

I called the number beside her name.

A recording informed me that the number was no longer in service.

I tried the number listed in the obituary.

the number beside her name.

A recording informed me that the number was no longer in service.

I tried the number listed in the obituary.

It rang six times before a woman answered.

"Hello?""

"Hi. My name is Nessa Hayes. I'm tryingIt rang six times before a woman answered.

"Hello?""

"Hi. My name is Nessa Hayes. I'm trying to reach Patricia Wells.""

A pause.

"Who is this?""

"My mother was Elaine Hayes. Patricia worked at the hospital to reach Patricia Wells.""

A pause.

"Who is this?""

"My mother was Elaine Hayes. Patricia worked at the hospital where she died.""

The woman stopped breathing for a moment.

Then she said, "I'm her where she died.""

The woman stopped breathing for a moment.

Then she said, "I'm her daughter.""

My grip tightened around the phone.

"Could I speak to you about something daughter.""

My grip tightened around the phone.

"Could I speak to you about something my father left behind?""

"Who is your father?""

"Elliot Hayes.""

There was a my father left behind?""

"Who is your father?""

"Elliot Hayes.""

There was a sound on the other end, like a chair scraping across the floor.

Then the woman said, sound on the other end, like a chair scraping across the floor.

Then the woman said, "Oh, God.""

"Do you know him?""

"My mother talked about him for "Oh, God.""

"Do you know him?""

"My mother talked about him for years.""

"Can I come see you?""

"No.""

The answer was immediate.

"Please," years.""

"Can I come see you?""

"No.""

The answer was immediate.

"Please," I said.

"I think my mother may not have died the way everyone believed I said.

"I think my mother may not have died the way everyone believed.""

Silence.

Then the woman spoke again.

"What makes you think that?""

I looked.""

Silence.

Then the woman spoke again.

"What makes you think that?""

I looked at the photograph.

"Because my father wrote at the photograph.

"Because my father wrote your mother's name beside a note that said she knew everything.""

The woman exhaled your mother's name beside a note that said she knew everything.""

The woman exhaled shakily.

"Come tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock. I'll text shakily.

"Come tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock. I'll text you the address.""

"Why not tonight?""

"Because I need to find you the address.""

"Why not tonight?""

"Because I need to find something first.""

"What?""

"My mother's journal.""

The call ended.

I sat perfectly still.

Then my something first.""

"What?""

"My mother's journal.""

The call ended.

I sat perfectly still.

Then my phone buzzed with a message containing an address.

Tessa arrived twenty minutes later carrying takeaway food phone buzzed with a message containing an address.

Tessa arrived twenty minutes later carrying takeaway food and a folder of printed photographs.

She found me at the table, the and a folder of printed photographs.

She found me at the table, the blue notebook open in front of me.

"Please tell me you haven't done anything dangerous.""

"I called Patricia blue notebook open in front of me.

"Please tell me you haven't done anything dangerous.""

"I called Patricia Wells's daughter.""

Tessa closed her eyes.

"Of course you did.""

"She agreed to meet me tomorrow.""

"Good Wells's daughter.""

Tessa closed her eyes.

"Of course you did.""

"She agreed to meet me tomorrow.""

"Good. We'll go together.""

I nodded.

She unpacked the food, then sat across. We'll go together.""

I nodded.

She unpacked the food, then sat across from me.

"Have you thought about calling Lorraine?""

"No.""

"Daniel?""

"No.""

"Your father?""

I from me.

"Have you thought about calling Lorraine?""

"No.""

"Daniel?""

"No.""

"Your father?""

I looked at the empty space on the page where his number should have looked at the empty space on the page where his number should have been.

"I don't know how to reach him.""

Tessa softened.

"We'll find been.

"I don't know how to reach him.""

Tessa softened.

"We'll find him.""

I wanted to believe her.

Instead, I handed her the notebook.

"Look at this photograph.""

She him.""

I wanted to believe her.

Instead, I handed her the notebook.

"Look at this photograph.""

She studied it carefully.

"That's Lorraine. That's Daniel. And that's the nurse.""

"Pat studied it carefully.

"That's Lorraine. That's Daniel. And that's the nurse.""

"Patricia.""

Tessa looked up.

"Why were your aunt and Daniel at the hospital together?""

"I don't knowricia.""

Tessa looked up.

"Why were your aunt and Daniel at the hospital together?""

"I don't know.""

"Did your aunt ever mention visiting your mother that night?""

"She said she couldn't bear.""

"Did your aunt ever mention visiting your mother that night?""

"She said she couldn't bear to see her sister so ill.""

Tessa frowned.

"And Daniel?""

"He told me he was working to see her sister so ill.""

Tessa frowned.

"And Daniel?""

"He told me he was working late.""

She placed the photograph on the table.

"Someone is lying.""

I almost late.""

She placed the photograph on the table.

"Someone is lying.""

I almost laughed.

"That's the one thing I know for certain.""

After dinner, I put Junie to bed laughed.

"That's the one thing I know for certain.""

After dinner, I put Junie to bed and returned downstairs.

I had promised her I would read two chapters of her and returned downstairs.

I had promised her I would read two chapters of her book, but she had fallen asleep halfway through the first, one hand curled around her stuffed rabbit.

I stood in the doorway for a long time.

She looked so much like me at that age.

The same gray eyes. The same book, but she had fallen asleep halfway through the first, one hand curled around her stuffed rabbit.

I stood in the doorway for a long time.

She looked so much like me at that age.

The same gray eyes. The same stubborn line of her mouth. The same habit of clutching something when she was frightened.

I thought about the old man on my stubborn line of her mouth. The same habit of clutching something when she was frightened.

I thought about the old man on my porch, asking whether I still had my mother's blanket.

I wondered how long he had stood outside porch, asking whether I still had my mother's blanket.

I wondered how long he had stood outside my house before calling to me.

I wondered whether he had watched me through my house before calling to me.

I wondered whether he had watched me through the window, seeing a woman who was barely keeping her life together, and decided he the window, seeing a woman who was barely keeping her life together, and decided he had no right to ask for anything.

Then I wondered how many times he had tried to reach me before had no right to ask for anything.

Then I wondered how many times he had tried to reach me before that night.

My phone vibrated.

An unknown number.

**You have something that that night.

My phone vibrated.

An unknown number.

*You have something that doesn't belong to you.*

I stared at the message.

Another arrived.

*Return the blue book to doesn't belong to you.*

I stared at the message.

Another arrived.

*Return the blue book to its owner.*

I took a screenshot and sent it to Detective Pike.

He called its owner.**

I took a screenshot and sent it to Detective Pike.

He called immediately.

"Where are you?""

"At home.""

"Is your daughter there immediately.

"Where are you?""

"At home.""

"Is your daughter there?""

"Yes.""

"Lock your doors. Don't go outside. I'll send a patrol car.""

"?""

"Yes.""

"Lock your doors. Don't go outside. I'll send a patrol car.""

"Who is sending these messages?""

"We're working on it.""

"That's whatWho is sending these messages?""

"We're working on it.""

"That's what you said this afternoon.""

"And I'm still working on it.""

I pressed my fingers against my forehead you said this afternoon.""

"And I'm still working on it.""

I pressed my fingers against my forehead.

"Detective, someone knows about the notebook. They know I have it.""

"Then.

"Detective, someone knows about the notebook. They know I have it.""

"Then assume your communications aren't private. Don't send any more photographs or documents assume your communications aren't private. Don't send any more photographs or documents to anyone until we speak.""

I looked at the blue notebook.

"Could this be connected to to anyone until we speak.""

I looked at the blue notebook.

"Could this be connected to my mother's death?""

"I can't answer that yet.""

"Could Daniel be involved?""

" my mother's death?""

"I can't answer that yet.""

"Could Daniel be involved?""

"Ms. Hayes, I need you to let us investigate.""

I almost shouted atMs. Hayes, I need you to let us investigate.""

I almost shouted at him.

Instead, I said, "Someone is threatening my child.""

His voice changed.

him.

Instead, I said, "Someone is threatening my child.""

His voice changed.

"I understand. A patrol unit is on the way. Keep your phone available"I understand.

A patrol unit is on the way. Keep your phone available.""

The call ended.

I locked the back door, checked the windows, and switched on every.""

The call ended.

I locked the back door, checked the windows, and switched on every exterior light.

When the patrol car arrived, I stood at the window and watched the exterior light.

When the patrol car arrived, I stood at the window and watched the officers walk around the house.

One checked the garden gate.

The other inspected the porch.

They found nothing officers walk around the house.

One checked the garden gate.

The other inspected the porch.

They found nothing.

At midnight, I carried the blue notebook upstairs and placed it inside the locked drawer.

At midnight, I carried the blue notebook upstairs and placed it inside the locked drawer of my bedside table.

Then I lay beside Junie, listening to her of my bedside table.

Then I lay beside Junie, listening to her breathe.

I didn't sleep.

At nine-forty the next morning, Tessa breathe.

I didn't sleep.

At nine-forty the next morning, Tessa arrived with two coffees and a baseball bat.

I stared at the bat.

"What is arrived with two coffees and a baseball bat.

I stared at the bat.

"What is that for?""

"Emotional support.""

"You're going to emotionally support someone with a baseball bat that for?""

"Emotional support.""

"You're going to emotionally support someone with a baseball bat?""

"Only if they deserve it.""

We drove to the address Patricia's daughter had sent me.

It was a modest?""

"Only if they deserve it.""

We drove to the address Patricia's daughter had sent me.

It was a modest house on a quiet street, with a narrow front garden and a white mailbox decorated with house on a quiet street, with a narrow front garden and a white mailbox decorated with painted flowers.

A woman stood behind the front window.

When we knocked, she opened the door but didn't invite painted flowers.

A woman stood behind the front window.

When we knocked, she opened the door but didn't invite us inside immediately.

She looked about forty, with dark hair tied into a loose us inside immediately.

She looked about forty, with dark hair tied into a loose knot and tired eyes.

"Nessa?""

"Yes.""

"I'm Rebecca Wells.""

We shook knot and tired eyes.

"Nessa?""

"Yes.""

"I'm Rebecca Wells.""

We shook hands.

She looked at Tessa.

"Your friend?""

"Yes.""

Rebecca hesitated, then stepped aside.

hands.

She looked at Tessa.

"Your friend?""

"Yes.""

Rebecca hesitated, then stepped aside.

"Come in.""

Her living room was crowded with books, photographs, and boxes of old papers"Come in.""

Her living room was crowded with books, photographs, and boxes of old papers. A large framed picture of Patricia hung above the fireplace.

Rebecca followed my. A large framed picture of Patricia hung above the fireplace.

Rebecca followed my gaze.

"She loved that photograph," she said.

"She used to say it was taken gaze.

"She loved that photograph," she said.

"She used to say it was taken on the last day she believed she could fix everything.""

My on the last day she believed she could fix everything.""

My throat tightened.

"Did she know my mother?""

"Yes. They worked throat tightened.

"Did she know my mother?""

"Yes. They worked together for years.""

Rebecca led us to a small dining table.

On it lay a thick journal bound together for years.""

Rebecca led us to a small dining table.

On it lay a thick journal bound in green cloth.

"My mother wrote in this almost every day," she in green cloth.

"My mother wrote in this almost every day," she said.

"She stopped writing regularly in the year your mother died.""

I sat said.

"She stopped writing regularly in the year your mother died.""

I sat down.

"Why?""

"Because something happened at the hospital.""

Rebecca opened the journal to a page marked with a down.

"Why?""

"Because something happened at the hospital.""

Rebecca opened the journal to a page marked with a strip of ribbon.

The date was November 14, 2011.

The day my mother died.

I strip of ribbon.

The date was November 14, 2011.

The day my mother died.

I read the first few lines.

*Elaine asked to speak to me alone. She was frightened. She read the first few lines.

Elaine asked to speak to me alone. She was frightened. She said someone had been taking documents from her house and that she no longer trusted her sister said someone had been taking documents from her house and that she no longer trusted her sister.

My breath caught.

The next entry had been written in a different pen.*

My breath caught.

The next entry had been written in a different pen.

*Daniel Mercer came to the hospital tonight. He said he was family and needed to see Elaine. Lorraine.

Daniel Mercer came to the hospital tonight. He said he was family and needed to see Elaine. Lorraine arrived twenty minutes later. They spoke in the corridor for nearly half an hour.

I arrived twenty minutes later. They spoke in the corridor for nearly half an hour.*

I looked up.

"Did your mother tell you what they said?""

Rebecca shook her head.

"She said she looked up.

"Did your mother tell you what they said?""

Rebecca shook her head.

"She said she didn't know. But she saw Lorraine hand Daniel an didn't know. But she saw Lorraine hand Daniel an envelope.""

I stared at the journal.

"What was in it?""

"I don't know.""

"Did your mother see them envelope.""

I stared at the journal.

"What was in it?""

"I don't know.""

"Did your mother see them again?""

"Yes.""

Rebecca turned several pages.

"Two days again?""

"Yes.""

Rebecca turned several pages.

"Two days later, she wrote this.""

The entry was short.

*Elaine's condition worsened after midnight. later, she wrote this.""

The entry was short.

*Elaine's condition worsened after midnight. The doctor was concerned about her breathing. I questioned the medication order because The doctor was concerned about her breathing.

I questioned the medication order because the dosage appeared inconsistent with the previous chart. I was told it had been reviewed by the dosage appeared inconsistent with the previous chart. I was told it had been reviewed by the attending physician.*

My hands began to shake.

"What medication?""

Rebecca pointed to a name written the attending physician.*

My hands began to shake.

"What medication?""

Rebecca pointed to a name written in the margin.

"I don't know what it was. I looked it up once, in the margin.

"I don't know what it was. I looked it up once, years ago. It can be used safely in certain circumstances, but the dose has to be carefully years ago. It can be used safely in certain circumstances, but the dose has to be carefully controlled.""

"Did your mother think someone had given Elaine too much?""

Rebecca swallowed.

controlled.""

"Did your mother think someone had given Elaine too much?""

Rebecca swallowed.

"She thought the records didn't match.""

The room went silent.

Tessa reached for"She thought the records didn't match.""

The room went silent.

Tessa reached for my hand.

I barely felt her touch.

"Did your mother report it my hand.

I barely felt her touch.

"Did your mother report it?""

"She tried. She spoke to her supervisor and filed an internal concern. But?""

"She tried. She spoke to her supervisor and filed an internal concern. But she was told the doctor had approved the order.""

"Who was the doctor?""

Rebecca turned to another page.

she was told the doctor had approved the order.""

"Who was the doctor?""

Rebecca turned to another page.

A name had been underlined twice.

I recognized it immediately.

Dr. Samuel WhitmoreA name had been underlined twice.

I recognized it immediately.

Dr. Samuel Whitmore.

He had signed my mother's death certificate.

Rebecca closed the journal.

"My mother kept.

He had signed my mother's death certificate.

Rebecca closed the journal.

"My mother kept copies of the documents she questioned. She told me she had placed them somewhere safe.""

"Where?""

"I copies of the documents she questioned. She told me she had placed them somewhere safe.""

"Where?""

"I don't know. She never told me.""

I stared at the closed journal.

"Then why did don't know. She never told me.""

I stared at the closed journal.

"Then why did you agree to meet me?""

Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.

"Because three weeks ago, someone broke into my mother's you agree to meet me?""

Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.

"Because three weeks ago, someone broke into my mother's house.""

My stomach dropped.

"What?""

"They didn't take jewelry or money. They opened drawers house.""

My stomach dropped.

"What?""

"They didn't take jewelry or money. They opened drawers, pulled books from shelves, and searched her desk. The only, pulled books from shelves, and searched her desk. The only thing missing was a small envelope of hospital records.""

"Did you report it?""

"Yes thing missing was a small envelope of hospital records.""

"Did you report it?""

"Yes. The police said there was no evidence of forced entry beyond a damaged back window. The police said there was no evidence of forced entry beyond a damaged back window. They couldn't identify anyone.""

I thought about the missing pages from my. They couldn't identify anyone.""

I thought about the missing pages from my mother's medical file.

The forged request.

The threats.

"Did you keep anything?""

mother's medical file.

The forged request.

The threats.

"Did you keep anything?""

Rebecca nodded.

She went to a cabinet and returned with a small plastic folder.

Inside wereRebecca nodded.

She went to a cabinet and returned with a small plastic folder.

Inside were photocopies of two hospital records and a handwritten note.

The first document showed a medication order photocopies of two hospital records and a handwritten note.

The first document showed a medication order with a doctor's signature.

The second showed a different dosage entered later that with a doctor's signature.

The second showed a different dosage entered later that night.

The note was in Patricia's handwriting.

*If anything happens to me, the night.

The note was in Patricia's handwriting.

If anything happens to me, the original chart is not the only copy.

I looked up.

"Where is the original?""

original chart is not the only copy.*

I looked up.

"Where is the original?""

Rebecca shook her head.

"I don't know.""

Then she pointed to the bottom of the note.

There was another sentenceRebecca shook her head.

"I don't know.""

Then she pointed to the bottom of the note.

There was another sentence.

Ask Margaret about the clock.

I felt the room tilt.

"The clock?""

Rebecca nodded.

Ask Margaret about the clock.

I felt the room tilt.

"The clock?""

Rebecca nodded.

"My mother wrote that the night before she died.""

I stood so quickly that the chair scraped against the floor.

"We"My mother wrote that the night before she died.""

I stood so quickly that the chair scraped against the floor.

"We need to talk to Margaret.""

Rebecca caught my wrist.

"Wait.""

She opened need to talk to Margaret.""

Rebecca caught my wrist.

"Wait.""

She opened the journal again and turned to the final page containing an entry about my father.

the journal again and turned to the final page containing an entry about my father.

It had been written three months earlier.

*Elliot came to see me. He said he had found proofIt had been written three months earlier.

*Elliot came to see me. He said he had found proof that the records were altered. He asked whether I still had the copy.

that the records were altered. He asked whether I still had the copy. I told him I had destroyed it.*

Beneath that, in smaller handwriting, was a sentence that had I told him I had destroyed it.*

Beneath that, in smaller handwriting, was a sentence that had been pressed so hard into the paper it had nearly torn through.

*I been pressed so hard into the paper it had nearly torn through.

I lied. I gave it to Margaret Ellis.

I stared at the words.

Then Rebecca whispered lied. I gave it to Margaret Ellis.*

I stared at the words.

Then Rebecca whispered, "Nessa, there's something else.""

She took a small photograph from the folder.

It showed Patricia, "Nessa, there's something else.""

She took a small photograph from the folder.

It showed Patricia standing outside the hospital with a man whose face had been scratched out.

On the back standing outside the hospital with a man whose face had been scratched out.

On the back, someone had written a date and a short message.

*The man who changed the chart was not, someone had written a date and a short message.

The man who changed the chart was not the man who signed it.

I looked at Rebecca.

"What does that mean?""

She shook her head.

"I don't know.""

My phone the man who signed it.*

I looked at Rebecca.

"What does that mean?""

She shook her head.

"I don't know.""

My phone rang.

Margaret Ellis.

I answered immediately.

"Nessa, where are you?""

" rang.

Margaret Ellis.

I answered immediately.

"Nessa, where are you?""

"With Patricia Wells's daughter.""

Margaret fell silent.

Then she said, "You need to leave thatWith Patricia Wells's daughter.""

Margaret fell silent.

Then she said, "You need to leave that house.""

"Why?""

"Because someone just came to mine asking for the blue ledger.""

house.""

"Why?""

"Because someone just came to mine asking for the blue ledger.""

I gripped the phone.

"Who?""

Margaret's voice trembled.

"Daniel.""

I looked at Tessa.

She hadI gripped the phone.

"Who?""

Margaret's voice trembled.

"Daniel.""

I looked at Tessa.

She had gone pale.

Margaret continued.

"He said he knows where Elliot gone pale.

Margaret continued.

"He said he knows where Elliot is. And he said if I don't give him the ledger by noon, he will tell you what is. And he said if I don't give him the ledger by noon, he will tell you what really happened to your mother.""

I glanced at the clock.

It was eleven-fifteen.

"Margaret, don't give him anything.""

"I haven't.""

" really happened to your mother.""

I glanced at the clock.

It was eleven-fifteen.

"Margaret, don't give him anything.""

"I haven't.""

"Then call the police.""

"I can't.""

"Why not?""

Her answer came inThen call the police.""

"I can't.""

"Why not?""

Her answer came in a whisper.

"Because Daniel isn't alone.""

I heard a crash on her end of a whisper.

"Because Daniel isn't alone.""

I heard a crash on her end of the line.

Then a man's voice.

"Margaret, put the phone down.""

She gas the line.

Then a man's voice.

"Margaret, put the phone down.""

She gasped.

The call ended.

For a second, I couldn't move.

Then I grabbed my bag.

Tessa was already on her feet.

"Weped.

The call ended.

For a second, I couldn't move.

Then I grabbed my bag.

Tessa was already on her feet.

"We're going to Bellweather Lane.""

I called Detective Pike as we ran to the car.

He're going to Bellweather Lane.""

I called Detective Pike as we ran to the car.

He answered immediately.

"Hayes?""

"Someone is at Margaret Ellis's house. Daniel is there. She says he's answered immediately.

"Hayes?""

"Someone is at Margaret Ellis's house. Daniel is there. She says he's not alone.""

"Stay where you are.""

"I can't.""

"Nessa, listen to me— not alone.""

"Stay where you are.""

"I can't.""

"Nessa, listen to me—"

But I had already hung up.

And as Tessa drove through"

But I had already hung up.

And as Tessa drove through the streets toward the blue-doored house, I realized the person who had spent fifteen years keeping my mother's secret the streets toward the blue-doored house, I realized the person who had spent fifteen years keeping my mother's secret was no longer hiding.

He was coming for the only evidence left.

And if Margaret was right, he was no longer hiding.

He was coming for the only evidence left.