Chapter 4: The Night My First Wife Died
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Mason stood in front of me, his cheeks wet with tears, his eyes fixed on the doorway where Vanessa had disappeared.
“Say that again,” I whispered.
Mason swallowed.
“Mom told Aunt Rebecca that Sarah wasn't supposed to die that night.””
I gripped the edge of the kitchen counter.
“Where did you hear that?””
“Last month. I was getting water, and Mom was talking on the phone in the living room. She didn't know I was there.””
“What exactly did she say?””
Mason closed his eyes, trying to remember.
“She said something about the accident. Then Aunt Rebecca asked if anyone knew. Mom said nobody could prove anything because the police thought it was just a normal accident.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did she mention what happened?””
Mason nodded.
“She said Sarah was supposed to be scared, not dead.””
I felt the room spinning.
Sarah.
My first wife.
Lily's mother.
Three years earlier, Sarah had been driving home from a charity dinner when her car crossed the center line on a quiet country road and struck a concrete barrier.
The police report said she had lost control during heavy rain.
There had been no witnesses.
No other vehicle involved.
I remembered standing beside her coffin, holding five-month-old Lily while Vanessa comforted me.
Vanessa had entered my life six months after Sarah's death.
She had been patient, affectionate, and incredibly kind.
At least, that's what I had believed.
“Dad?”” Mason whispered.
I looked at him.
“Did Mom know Sarah before she died?””
He nodded.
“She said they were friends.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“Mom said she knew Sarah from somewhere. They used to talk before you met her.””
I had never heard that before.
Vanessa had always claimed she met Sarah only through mutual acquaintances, and that their relationship had been brief.
I pulled out my phone and called Detective Harris, the officer who had handled Sarah's accident.
He answered after three rings.
“Michael? Everything okay?””
“No. I need to talk to you about Sarah's accident.””
There was a pause.
“What happened?””
“My wife made a statement tonight suggesting Sarah's death wasn't an accident.””
Another pause.
“Michael, where are you?””
“At home. Police have just taken her into custody for abusing my daughter.””
“Don't discuss the accident with anyone else. I'll come over.””
Before ending the call, I asked one question.
“Did you ever investigate Vanessa?””
Silence.
Then Detective Harris said something that made my knees weaken.
“Michael, we need to talk about a report that was never included in the final accident file.””
He hung up.
At the hospital, Lily slept with a small bandage on her cheek.
The pediatrician had documented the injury, signs of prolonged food restriction, and several older bruises that required further examination.
I sat beside her bed, holding her tiny hand.
Mason was asleep in a chair near the window.
I hadn't realized how exhausted he was until he finally stopped fighting sleep.
A nurse entered with a clipboard.
“Mr. Carter?””
I stood.
“Yes?””
“Someone is here asking to see you.””
“Who?””
“Rebecca. She says she's Vanessa's sister.””
I immediately became alert.
“Did she say why?””
“She said she has something important to tell you.””
I glanced at Mason.
He had started stirring.
“Don't let her near my children,” I told the nurse.
Rebecca was waiting in the corridor.
She looked nothing like Vanessa.
Her dark hair was pulled into a loose bun, and her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely hold her purse.
“Michael,” she said.
I kept my distance.
“What do you want?””
She looked toward Lily's room.
“Is she okay?””
“Don't pretend you care about my daughter.””
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
“I know what Vanessa has done. I should have stopped her.””
“Then start talking.””
She opened her purse and pulled out a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Sarah standing outside a restaurant, smiling at someone.
That someone was Vanessa.
I stared at the picture.
“When was this taken?””
“About four years ago.””
Before Vanessa and I had met.
Rebecca nodded.
“They worked at the same insurance company. Sarah discovered Vanessa had been changing customer records and redirecting payments into an account she controlled.””
I looked at her.
“Are you telling me Vanessa committed fraud?””
“Sarah reported it. Vanessa lost her job. She was questioned by investigators, but the case eventually fell apart.””
I remembered Sarah mentioning a difficult colleague once.
She had never told me the person's name.
“Why would Vanessa come after Sarah years later?””
Rebecca's eyes filled.
“Because Sarah had evidence.””
“What evidence?””
“I don't know. But Vanessa believed Sarah kept copies of the documents.””
I stared at the photograph.
Then Rebecca whispered:
“Vanessa didn't marry you because she fell in love with you, Michael.””
My fingers tightened around the envelope.
“What are you saying?””
“She knew who you were. She knew about Sarah's insurance policy. And she knew Lily was the beneficiary.””
I took a step backward.
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“I'm sorry.””
“Sorry isn't enough.””
“I know.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Sarah's smile was bright and familiar.
The last time I had seen that smile was the morning she died.
“Did Vanessa cause the accident?”” I asked.
Rebecca looked toward the hospital room.
Then she answered.
“I don't know whether she intended Sarah to die.””
My throat tightened.
“But I know she was the last person Sarah called.””
Detective Harris arrived twenty minutes later.
He listened to Rebecca's statement without interrupting.
Then he placed a thick folder on the table.
“Three years ago, we received an anonymous tip about Sarah's accident,” he said.
I leaned forward.
“What tip?””
“Someone claimed Sarah had been followed for several days before the crash. We couldn't verify it, so it wasn't included in the final report.””
“Who made the call?””
Harris opened the folder.
“The number was traced to a prepaid phone purchased under a false name.””
Rebecca looked down.
I stared at her.
“Do you know something?””
She began crying.
“I bought that phone.””
The room went silent.
Harris slowly closed the folder.
“Why?””
Rebecca covered her face.
“Because Vanessa told me Sarah was threatening her. She said she only wanted to frighten her into giving back some documents.””
I gripped the table.
“What did you do?””
“I called the police anonymously. I was scared. I didn't know what else to do.””
“Why didn't you tell them your name?””
“Because Vanessa said she would destroy my life if I got involved.””
Detective Harris stood.
“Rebecca, you're coming with us to give a formal statement.””
She nodded.
Before leaving, she turned toward me.
“There is something else.””
I looked up.
“Vanessa kept Sarah's old phone.””
My heart stopped.
“Where?””
May you like
Rebecca hesitated.
“Inside the safe at your house.””
