Chapter 6
The next morning, I woke to the sound of Lily crying.
I ran into her bedroom.
She was sitting upright, clutching her stuffed rabbit.
Her face was wet with tears.
"Mommy!"
I rushed to her.
"I'm here, baby."
She threw herself into my arms.
I held her tightly.
"What's wrong?"
She pressed her face against my shoulder.
"I dreamed Aunt Vanessa came back."
My heart broke.
I kissed the top of her head.
"She can't come in here."
Lily looked toward the door.
"Promise?"
I nodded.
"I promise."
After the incident, I'd changed the alarm code and the locks.
I'd also told the school that Vanessa and my parents were no longer authorized to collect Lily.
I hated making those decisions.
I hated knowing my daughter was afraid of people she once trusted.
But protecting her mattered more than anyone's feelings.
I sat beside her until she calmed down.
Then she whispered something that stayed with me.
"Mommy, am I allowed to say no to grown-ups?"
My throat tightened.
I gently held her face.
"Yes."
She looked surprised.
"Even Grandma?"
"Even Grandma."
"Even Grandpa?"
"Even Grandpa."
She thought for a moment.
"Even Aunt Vanessa?"
I nodded firmly.
"Especially if somebody is hurting you or asking you to keep a scary secret."
Lily leaned against me.
"Okay."
I held her until she fell asleep again.
Later that morning, I contacted a child therapist recommended by Lily's pediatrician.
Her name was Dr. Renee Jackson.
She specialized in helping children recover from frightening experiences.
During our first appointment, she explained that Lily needed reassurance, predictable routines, and opportunities to express herself without pressure.
I listened carefully.
Then I asked whether Lily would ever feel safe around family again.
Dr. Jackson looked at me gently.
"She can recover. But she needs to know the adults around her will protect her boundaries."
I nodded.
"I'll make sure of that."
She smiled.
"That's an important beginning."
Over the following days, the investigation continued.
Detective Brooks called with updates.
The security footage had been preserved.
The financial records were being reviewed.
And investigators had obtained access to Daniel's vehicle.
I waited for news every hour.
Sometimes I checked my phone so often that Simone gently took it from my hand.
"Nia, you need to eat."
I shook my head.
"I can't."
She placed a sandwich in front of me.
"Then take three bites."
I almost laughed.
She sounded exactly like Daniel.
He used to say the same thing when I was stressed.
The thought made my eyes fill.
Simone noticed.
She sat beside me.
"You miss him."
I nodded.
"Every day."
She wrapped an arm around me.
"Then let yourself miss him."
I began crying.
For months, I'd been too angry about the supposed affair to grieve properly.
Now I knew the truth.
Daniel hadn't betrayed me.
He'd been trying to protect us.
I wanted to apologize to him.
I wanted to tell him I believed him.
But he was gone.
And I couldn't change the months I'd spent doubting him.
That afternoon, Arthur called.
I stared at the screen.
Dad.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
"What do you want?"
His voice sounded tired.
"Nia, please. I just want to talk."
I closed my eyes.
"Then tell Detective Brooks everything."
He sighed.
"Your mother is devastated."
I felt anger rise.
"My daughter has bruises."
He went quiet.
"Your husband is dead."
"Nia..."
"And you lied about him."
He began crying.
"I was afraid."
I shook my head.
"Of losing your business?"
He didn't answer.
I felt sick.
"Dad, did you arrange for Daniel's car to be hidden?"
Silence.
My heart pounded.
"Arthur."
He whispered, "It wasn't supposed to happen."
I stopped breathing.
"What?"
He immediately began talking.
"The accident. It wasn't supposed to happen."
My knees weakened.
I grabbed the counter.
"What do you mean?"
He started crying harder.
"Nia, I swear I never wanted Daniel dead."
I couldn't breathe.
"Then what did you want?"
Silence.
Then he whispered.
"I wanted him scared enough to stay quiet."
My entire body went cold.
I stared at the wall.
"You threatened him?"
He sobbed.
"Yes."
"And someone interfered with his car?"
"I didn't order that!"
I gripped the phone.
"Then who did?"
He hesitated.
"I don't know."
I didn't believe him.
But before I could speak, he continued.
"Vanessa was trying to help me."
I closed my eyes.
"How?"
"She arranged a meeting with a mechanic."
My heart stopped.
"What mechanic?"
Arthur began crying.
"I told her to find someone who could inspect the car and help us understand whether Daniel had discovered company documents in it."
I stared at the phone.
"That doesn't make sense."
"I know."
My voice rose.
"You don't just send someone to inspect your son-in-law's car without telling him!"
Arthur was silent.
I felt rage building.
"Dad, what aren't you telling me?"
He whispered.
"Vanessa said she knew a man who could make Daniel stop asking questions."
My stomach dropped.
I could barely speak.
"Who?"
Arthur hesitated.
"His name is Curtis."
I gripped the counter.
"Curtis who?"
"Curtis Morgan."
I stared at the wall.
The name sounded familiar.
Then I remembered.
Curtis Morgan had worked as a contractor on one of Dad's largest developments.
He'd been dismissed after a dispute over missing materials.
Daniel had once told me he didn't trust him.
Now my father was saying Vanessa had contacted him.
I felt sick.
"Did Curtis touch Daniel's car?"
Arthur began sobbing.
"I don't know."
I closed my eyes.
"Then tell the police everything."
"Nia, please don't let them take me away."
My heart broke.
But my voice remained steady.
"Dad, you don't get to ask me to protect you from the truth."
He whispered my name.
I ended the call.
Then I immediately contacted Detective Brooks.
I told her everything Arthur had said.
She asked whether the call had been recorded.
I shook my head.
But I gave her the exact time and every detail I could remember.
Later that evening, she called back.
"Mrs. Carter, we're locating Curtis Morgan."
My heart pounded.
"Do you think he was involved?"
"We have reason to interview him."
I looked toward Lily's bedroom.
She was asleep.
For the first time, I felt a terrible mixture of fear and hope.
Maybe we were finally close.
Maybe someone would explain what happened to Daniel.
Then Detective Brooks added something unexpected.
"There's one more thing."
I swallowed.
"What?"
"The initial independent examination of Daniel's vehicle has identified signs of possible interference with its braking system."
My heart stopped.
She continued carefully.
"We need additional testing before drawing conclusions."
I pressed a hand over my mouth.
"But it's possible somebody caused the crash?"
"Yes."
Tears filled my eyes.
I looked toward the photograph of Daniel on the mantel.
His warm smile.
His kind eyes.
The man who had trusted my family.
I began crying.
Because for the first time, my worst fear had become a real possibility.
May you like
Daniel hadn't simply been taken from us by a terrible accident.
Someone might have deliberately made sure he never came home.
