Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Name
“Who is Michael?””
Mark didn't answer.
I grabbed his sleeve.
“Who is Michael?””
He looked at me as though he was trying to decide whether one more lie could save us.
It couldn't.
“Michael was my father's driver.””
Zoe frowned.
“Your father's driver died with him.””
“No.””
Mark's voice was barely audible.
“He disappeared.””
“When?””
“The week before my father died.””
The police officer stepped closer.
“Why would a missing man be with Megan tonight?””
“I don't know.””
“Do you recognize the tattoo?””
Mark nodded.
“It's his.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then why does it have your initials?””
Mark looked at me.
“Because Michael was my father's illegitimate son.””
Silence.
Zoe whispered, “What?””
Mark swallowed.
“My father had another family.””
I stared at him.
“How long have you known?””
“Since I was twenty-three.””
“And your mother?””
“She knew.””
“Megan?””
“She knew too.””
I thought about the letter.
Ask Megan why your daughter knows the name Eleanor.
“Why would Michael take Lily?””
“I don't know.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because I don't.””
The officer interrupted.
“Where would he take her?””
Mark looked at the photograph.
“There's only one place.””
“Where?””
“My father's old property.””
Zoe shook her head.
“That house was sold.””
“Not the cabin.””
I stared at him.
“What cabin?””
“The one near the lake.””
“You never told me about a cabin.””
“Because it belonged to my father.””
The officer was already reaching for his radio.
“Coordinates?””
Mark gave them.
The officer repeated them.
Then another officer rushed into the room.
“We've got a problem.””
“What?””
“The gas station footage isn't the only footage.””
He handed over a tablet.
“We found another camera.””
The screen showed a road.
Megan's car appeared.
Behind it was another vehicle.
A black SUV.
The passenger window was lowered.
A little hand pressed against the glass.
Lily.
I stopped breathing.
“She’s alive.””
“Yes.””
“Where are they going?””
The officer pointed.
“Toward the lake.””
I grabbed my coat.
“Then let's go.””
The drive felt endless.
Rain streaked across the windshield.
Police lights flashed behind us.
Zoe sat beside me.
Mark was in the car ahead.
I couldn't stop thinking about Lily.
Her tiny hand against that window.
Her face.
Her fear.
And the words she had whispered into the phone.
Don't trust Daddy.
I looked at Zoe.
“Why would Lily say that?””
“I don't know.””
“You know more than you're telling me.””
Zoe looked away.
“Chloe.””
“Tell me.””
She closed her eyes.
“I found another recording.””
My hands tightened around the wheel.
“When?””
“Before we left.””
“What recording?””
“One from the basement.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wanted to listen to it first.””
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
“What did it say?””
Zoe hesitated.
Then she looked at me.
“It was Lily.””
My heart stopped.
“Lily?””
“She was talking to someone.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“What did she say?””
Zoe's voice cracked.
“She said, ‘Mommy doesn't know about the money.’”
I frowned.
“That's what the note said.””
“Yes.””
“Then what?””
“She said, ‘Daddy told me never to tell her.’”
My chest tightened.
“Mark told her?””
“I don't know.””
“What else?””
“She mentioned Eleanor.””
I almost missed the turn.
“What did she say?””
Zoe swallowed.
“She said, ‘Grandma Eleanor said Daddy would be sorry.’”
The rain hit the windshield harder.
I whispered, “What did Mark do?””
“I don't know.””
Then Zoe's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Zoe.””
She froze.
I recognized it from the recording.
Michael.
“Where is Lily?””
He laughed softly.
“She isn't the one you should worry about.””
Zoe put the phone on speaker.
“Then who?””
“Chloe.””
My blood ran cold.
“How do you know me?””
“I've known about you for years.””
“Where is my daughter?””
“She is safe.””
“Let me speak to her.””
“No.””
“Then I'll call the police.””
“They're already following you.””
I glanced at the police car behind us.
Michael laughed.
“Good.””
“Why are you doing this?””
“Because your husband lied.””
“About what?””
“Everything.””
“Tell me.””
“You think Megan is the monster.””
I said nothing.
“She isn't.””
My stomach twisted.
“Then who is?””
“Your husband.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“You're lying.””
“Am I?””
“Yes.””
“Then ask him about the night your father-in-law died.””
I looked at Mark's car ahead.
“What does that have to do with Lily?””
“Everything.””
The call ended.
Zoe stared at me.
“Call Mark.””
I did.
He answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
“Chloe—”
“Michael just called.””
Silence.
“You know him.””
“Yes.””
“You knew he was alive.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about the cabin.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about the money.””
Silence.
“Mark.””
His voice finally came.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“When I could protect you.””
“You're not protecting me.””
“I know.””
“Did you tell Lily to keep secrets from me?””
“No.””
“Did you ever tell her not to tell me about the money?””
“No.””
“Then why does she say you did?””
Mark didn't answer.
I felt something inside me go cold.
“Mark?””
His voice broke.
“Because I wasn't talking about money.””
“What were you talking about?””
“The inheritance.””
I frowned.
“What inheritance?””
“My father left something to Lily.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“No.””
“What did he leave her?””
“A trust.””
I stared at the road.
“How much?””
“Eight million dollars.””
My hands went numb.
“What?””
“He created it before he died.””
“For Lily?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“Who controls it?””
“Eleanor.””
I remembered the letter.
Ask Megan why your daughter knows the name Eleanor.
“Where is Eleanor now?””
Mark's voice became quiet.
“She died last year.””
My stomach dropped.
“Then who is controlling the trust?””
Silence.
“Mark.””
He finally answered.
“Megan.””
The call ended.
I stared straight ahead.
Zoe whispered, “Chloe.””
“What?””
“The cabin.””
“What about it?””
“The police are stopping.””
I looked through the windshield.
The road ended at a locked gate.
Beyond it stood a dark cabin surrounded by trees.
One upstairs window was glowing.
Then I saw a small figure behind it.
Lily.
She pressed both hands against the glass.
I slammed the car into park.
“Lily!””
I jumped out.
Police officers ran past me.
A gunshot cracked through the trees.
Everyone ducked.
Then the cabin lights went out.
I screamed my daughter's name.
“LILY!””
From the darkness inside the cabin came a man's voice.
“Chloe!””
Michael.
Then another voice.
Megan.
And finally, a third voice.
A voice I had heard only once before.
On the recording.
Eleanor.
But Eleanor was dead.
May you like
And the voice whispered:
“Come inside, Chloe.””
