Chapter 17: The Friend Who Knew Too Much
The next morning, my father made a list.
Everyone who had been close to our family.
Everyone who knew about my mother's illness.
Everyone who had access to information after her death.
The list wasn't long.
But every name made my stomach twist.
Doctors.
Lawyers.
Family friends.
People I had known for years.
I stared at one name.
"Mr. Harrison.""
My father looked at me.
"The attorney?""
I nodded.
"Could it be him?""
My father didn't answer immediately.
And that scared me.
Because Mr. Harrison had always seemed like the person helping us.
The person giving us answers.
But now we understood something important.
Someone who knows the truth can also control the truth.
My father called him.
He agreed to meet us that afternoon.
When we arrived at his office, he looked surprised.
"You found more.""
It wasn't a question.
My father noticed.
"You knew we would.""
Mr. Harrison became quiet.
"I suspected.""
"Suspected what?""
He looked at me.
"That the past was going to catch up eventually.""
I didn't like that answer.
"What does that mean?""
He sighed.
"It means your mother was smarter than people gave her credit for.""
My father placed the bracelet on the desk.
Mr. Harrison's face changed.
"You found it.""
My heart jumped.
"You knew about this?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"Yes.""
My father stood.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because your mother asked me not to.""
"Again with that excuse.""
Mr. Harrison looked hurt.
"Your mother was trying to protect her daughter.""
I looked at him.
"From who?""
He didn't answer.
That silence told me more than words.
My father leaned forward.
"You knew someone was involved.""
Mr. Harrison nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
My father laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
Mr. Harrison looked at me.
"There was one person your mother trusted completely.""
My heart stopped.
"Who?""
He hesitated.
Then said:
"Your mother's closest friend.""
I frowned.
"My mother had a best friend?""
My father looked confused too.
Mr. Harrison nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why don't I know about her?""
The attorney looked down.
"Because after your mother died, she disappeared.""
That felt strange.
Someone important to my mother.
Someone who knew everything.
Gone after her death.
"What was her name?""
Mr. Harrison opened an old file.
"Rebecca Lane.""
I had never heard that name before.
My father had.
His expression changed.
"You know her?""
"She was around during your mother's illness.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
My father looked angry.
Mr. Harrison sighed.
"Because she asked me not to.""
Again.
Another secret.
Another person claiming they were protecting us.
I stood.
"I want to find her.""
My father looked at me.
"Are you sure?""
"No.""
I looked at the files.
"But I'm tired of being afraid of information.""
That afternoon, we searched for Rebecca.
It wasn't easy.
She had changed addresses.
Changed phone numbers.
Almost disappeared.
But eventually, we found something.
A current address.
A small town several hours away.
My father drove.
Mia came too.
Nobody said much.
Because we all knew.
Whatever Rebecca told us could change everything.
When we arrived, the house looked ordinary.
Too ordinary.
A woman answered the door.
Older than I expected.
Her face changed when she saw my father.
Then she saw me.
And she covered her mouth.
"Oh my God.""
My father stepped forward.
"Rebecca.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You found her.""
I frowned.
"Found who?""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Your mother.""
I froze.
"What?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
She whispered.
"Not physically.""
She looked terrified.
"Her truth.""
The words made no sense.
Until she said:
"Your mother didn't die because of an accident.""
Nobody moved.
My father went completely still.
May you like
Rebecca looked at me.
"She was trying to save you.""
