Chapter 4: The Death They Buried
"Your father didn't believe she died accidentally.""
Vanessa's words echoed through the dining room.
I stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
My older sister, Emily, had died seventeen years earlier. I was twenty years old. She was twenty-three, engaged, and working as a nurse at a hospital outside Chicago.
The police said she lost control of her car during a storm.
Her vehicle struck a guardrail on a country road and rolled into a ditch.
She died before the ambulance arrived.
That was the story I had lived with for almost two decades.
My father never questioned it.
At least, that's what I had believed.
"Explain what you just said," I demanded.
Vanessa looked toward the staircase.
"Not here.""
"You're going to explain it right now.""
She shook her head.
"I don't know everything.""
"Then tell me what you know.""
Vanessa sat down and pressed her palms against her forehead.
"After Emily died, your father became obsessed with finding out what happened. He hired someone to investigate the accident.""
I frowned.
"Nobody told me that.""
"He didn't want you involved.""
"Why?""
"Because he thought you were too young. And because he believed someone in the family knew more than they were admitting.""
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Who?""
Vanessa looked toward her phone.
"Your mother.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Ruth?""
She nodded.
"My mother had nothing to do with Emily's accident.""
"That's what your father believed at first.""
"And what changed?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"He found out Emily had been receiving money from someone before she died. Large amounts. Your father thought she was being blackmailed.""
I stared at her.
"By whom?""
"I don't know.""
"Vanessa!""
"I'm telling you what I heard!""
Her voice cracked.
I stood and walked toward the kitchen, trying to organize my thoughts.
My father had died four years earlier after a long battle with heart disease. During his final months, I had visited him every weekend.
We talked about work, football, the children, and his garden.
Never once had he mentioned Emily's accident.
Never once had he told me he suspected someone.
I remembered his final birthday.
He had held my hand and said, "Take care of your little girl, Daniel. Some people will smile at you while planning to take everything you love.""
At the time, I thought he was talking about business.
Now I wasn't so sure.
"Where are the investigation papers?"" I asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
"Your father kept them.""
"Where?""
"In his old study.""
"That house was sold.""
"I know.""
"Then how do you know about the papers?""
She looked at me.
"Because I saw them.""
"When?""
"Three months after your father died.""
I slowly turned.
"Why were you in his study?""
"Your mother asked me to help her sort through his belongings.""
"And you found the investigation?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Inside a locked drawer.""
I waited.
She looked down at her hands.
"There was a photograph of Emily's car. A police report. Bank statements. And a letter.""
"What letter?""
"One addressed to you.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where is it?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"I gave it to Patricia.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"You gave my father's letter to your sister?""
"She said she could help me understand the documents.""
"Why would she need to understand a letter addressed to me?""
Vanessa started crying again.
"Because she recognized the name on the bank statements.""
"Whose name?""
She didn't answer.
I grabbed my phone.
"I'm calling my mother.""
Vanessa jumped up.
"Daniel, please!""
I ignored her and dialed.
My mother answered after four rings.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
"Mom, I need to ask you something.""
Her voice changed immediately.
"What happened?""
"Did Dad investigate Emily's death?""
Silence.
A long, uncomfortable silence.
Then she whispered, "Who told you?""
I closed my eyes.
"So it's true.""
"Daniel, where are you?""
"At home.""
"Is Vanessa with you?""
I looked at my wife.
"Yes.""
My mother exhaled sharply.
"Don't discuss this with her.""
I almost dropped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because your wife doesn't know the whole story.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Ruth, stop lying!""
My mother went quiet.
Then she said something I wasn't prepared to hear.
"Daniel, Patricia Collins was the last person to see Emily alive.""
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had gone completely white.
"What?""
My mother continued.
"Your father found out Patricia had visited Emily that night. They argued about money. The next morning, Emily was dead.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
"We did.""
"What happened?""
"They said Patricia's car was never seen near the accident.""
"Then why did Dad investigate?""
"Because he found a receipt in Emily's apartment. A receipt showing Patricia had purchased something with Emily's bank card the morning after she died.""
I stared at the wall.
"What did she buy?""
My mother hesitated.
"Gasoline.""
I couldn't speak.
Then she added, "Daniel, there's something else. Your father didn't leave the original will with the lawyers.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know.""
"Mom, please.""
Her voice softened.
"Your father told me that if anything happened to him before he could finish the investigation, I should look for the blue box.""
I looked at the document on the table.
"What blue box?""
"The one Emily left behind.""
Before I could ask another question, my mother whispered:
"Don't let Patricia know you're looking for it.""
The call ended.
I stood motionless.
Vanessa was crying silently.
I turned toward her.
"Your sister was involved in Emily's death.""
"I don't know that.""
"But you knew she was the last person to see her alive.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I only found out recently.""
"When?""
"After she received the first transfer.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
She pressed her hands together.
"Patricia told me she had proof that Emily's death wasn't an accident. She said she could make the information disappear.""
I stepped closer.
"And you paid her?""
Vanessa nodded.
"With our savings?""
She nodded again.
I felt sick.
My wife hadn't simply given money to her sister.
She had been paying someone who appeared to be using my dead sister's memory as leverage.
Then I heard footsteps upstairs.
Malik appeared at the top of the staircase.
"Dad?""
I turned.
He was holding Nia's hand.
"What's wrong?""
I forced myself to breathe.
"Nothing you need to worry about right now.""
Malik looked at Vanessa.
"Is Mom going to send us away?""
Vanessa immediately started crying harder.
I looked at my son.
"Nobody is sending you anywhere.""
He nodded, but he didn't look convinced.
Then Nia spoke.
"Daddy?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
She held out a small piece of paper.
"I think I know where Grandma put the blue box.""
I stared at her.
"How?""
Nia pointed toward the hallway closet.
"Because I saw Aunt Patricia put something there yesterday. She told me not to touch it.""
My heart stopped.
"Yesterday?""
Nia nodded.
"She said it was a secret for Mommy.""
I turned toward the closet.
May you like
And suddenly, I realized Patricia hadn't just been hiding something from my family.
She had been inside my house, moving evidence.
