Chapter 23: The Ally Who Was Never an Ally
The next morning, my father made one decision.
We were done trusting people without proof.
No more assumptions.
No more believing someone's words because they sounded sincere.
We had spent years doing that.
And every time, someone used it against us.
The first person we needed answers from was Rebecca.
Because the more I thought about it...
the stranger everything became.
Rebecca appeared when we needed answers.
She had documents.
She knew about my mother's plans.
She knew secrets nobody else knew.
At first, that made her look trustworthy.
But now?
It made her suspicious.
My father didn't want to believe it.
"I don't think Rebecca would hurt us.""
I looked at him.
"Dad.""
He sighed.
"I know.""
Because he knew exactly what I meant.
Trusting someone because you wanted them to be good had almost destroyed us before.
That afternoon, we returned to Rebecca's house.
She opened the door.
But this time, she looked nervous.
"You came back.""
My father nodded.
"We need to talk.""
Her expression changed.
She knew.
Inside, my father placed copies of the documents on the table.
"Where did you get these?""
Rebecca looked at them.
"Your mother gave them to me.""
"All of them?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
She hesitated.
"Because she trusted me.""
I looked at her.
"Did she?""
Rebecca became quiet.
That silence was enough.
My father leaned forward.
"Rebecca.""
She closed her eyes.
"I made mistakes.""
My heart sank.
"What mistakes?""
She looked at me.
"I should have told you everything sooner.""
"That's not an answer.""
She looked down.
"When your mother died, she asked me to protect you.""
My voice became sharper.
"By hiding the truth?""
"I was afraid.""
Everyone was afraid.
That was the excuse everyone used.
My father stood.
"Afraid of what?""
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
"Of losing you.""
The answer confused me.
"What?""
She looked at my father.
"Your mother didn't only fear Karen.""
My father froze.
"She feared what would happen if the truth came out too quickly.""
"Why?""
Rebecca whispered:
"Because your mother believed someone would hurt you.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
"Who?""
Rebecca looked at me.
"I don't know.""
I almost laughed.
Again.
Nobody knew.
Nobody had answers.
But everyone somehow had secrets.
Then Rebecca said something that changed everything.
"There is one person who knew your mother was investigating.""
My father leaned forward.
"Who?""
Rebecca looked at him.
"You.""
Silence.
My father stared.
"Me?""
Rebecca nodded.
"Your mother told you.""
"I don't remember.""
"Because you weren't supposed to.""
My heart stopped.
"What does that mean?""
Rebecca reached into a drawer.
She pulled out a small bottle.
Medicine.
Old.
My father looked confused.
"What is that?""
Rebecca looked at him.
"Your medication.""
His face changed.
"What?""
"After the accident, you had severe anxiety.""
My father nodded slowly.
"I remember.""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Your father was given medication.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?""
Rebecca's voice became quiet.
"Because someone changed the dosage.""
Nobody moved.
My father stared.
"That's impossible.""
Rebecca shook her head.
"I found the records.""
My stomach dropped.
Someone had been controlling my father's memories.
His health.
His ability to understand what happened.
Someone hadn't just hidden the truth.
They had altered his ability to find it.
My father grabbed the bottle.
"Who prescribed this?""
Rebecca looked away.
And that was when I realized.
She knew.
"Dad.""
He looked at her.
"Who?""
Rebecca whispered:
"The same doctor who treated your mother.""
The room went silent.
A doctor.
Someone who had been involved from the beginning.
Someone who had access to everything.
Someone who could change records.
Someone who could manipulate evidence.
Then my phone buzzed.
Another message.
Unknown number.
This time, only one sentence.
*"Now you understand why your mother was afraid.""*
I showed my father.
His face turned pale.
Because underneath the message...
was a name.
May you like
A name we had never suspected.
Dr. Evan Collins.
