Chapter 6: The Secret My Father Buried
"Tell me she's lying.""
My father's voice was barely above a whisper.
Robert stood in the kitchen, his hands resting on the edge of the counter.
Melissa remained near the staircase, holding the silver key.
Nobody moved.
"Robert," Daniel repeated.
"Tell me she's lying.""
My uncle looked at him.
"I never wanted Jaylen to find out this way.""
My father stepped forward.
"That's not an answer.""
Melissa laughed.
It was a small, bitter sound.
"Go ahead, Robert. Tell him. Tell him what happened after you left the hospital.""
My heart was pounding.
"What hospital?""
Melissa looked at me.
Then she smiled.
"Your mother didn't die at home, sweetheart.""
I turned toward my father.
He looked as though someone had punched him.
"Stop," he said.
Melissa ignored him.
"Your father told you she died peacefully in her sleep. Isn't that what he said?""
I nodded slowly.
She tilted her head.
"That's not what happened.""
"Enough!"" Daniel shouted.
Melissa flinched.
But only for a second.
Then she walked toward the coffee table and placed the silver key beside the two recording devices.
"Maybe it's time everyone stopped pretending.""
Robert's face tightened.
"Melissa, don't.""
She looked at him.
"You don't get to tell me what to do anymore.""
My father grabbed the back of a chair.
"Robert. Start talking.""
My uncle took a deep breath.
"Six years ago, your mother discovered that someone had been entering her medical records without permission.""
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
"She had been experiencing strange episodes. Dizziness. Confusion.
She thought it was stress at first. Then she found unusual changes in her prescriptions.""
My father stared at him.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"She did.""
"No, she didn't.""
Robert looked directly at him.
"She called you three times. You were in Chicago for a business conference. You told her you would discuss it when you got home.""
Daniel looked away.
I remembered that conference.
My father had been gone for four days.
I remembered my mother sitting on the couch, holding her head, telling me she had a terrible headache.
I had brought her a glass of water.
She had smiled and kissed my forehead.
"You're such a good boy, Jay.""
I remembered those words.
My throat tightened.
"Did someone make Mom sick?"" I asked.
Robert looked at me.
"We don't know everything yet.""
Melissa scoffed.
"Oh, Robert. Don't pretend you're innocent.""
My father turned toward her.
"What does that mean?""
She picked up the silver key.
"Ask him what this opens.""
Robert's expression changed.
"Put that down.""
"Why? Afraid Daniel will finally see what you've been hiding?""
She held the key up.
"This belonged to your wife. She kept something in a storage locker. Robert knows exactly where it is.""
My father stared at the key.
"What storage locker?""
Robert remained silent.
Melissa laughed.
"Locker 214 at the old Westside storage facility.""
Daniel looked at Robert.
"Is that true?""
My uncle nodded reluctantly.
"Yes.""
"What is inside?""
"Documents.""
"What documents?""
"Evidence your wife collected.""
My father ran a hand through his hair.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know who I could trust.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"I'm her husband.""
Robert's voice sharpened.
"And you married Melissa three years later!""
The kitchen fell silent.
My father looked wounded.
Robert continued.
"Your wife was terrified. She told me that if anything happened to her, I had to protect Jaylen and keep the evidence away from Melissa.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did you disappear?""
Robert looked at me.
"Because someone threatened you.""
I froze.
"Who?""
"Melissa.""
My stepmother rolled her eyes.
"That's ridiculous.""
Robert continued.
"Two months after your mother's funeral, I received a letter. It contained a photograph of you leaving school. Someone had circled your face and written a warning underneath.""
My stomach twisted.
"What warning?""
Robert looked down.
"Stay away from the boy, or he'll be next.""
My father slammed his hand against the counter.
"Why didn't you come to me?""
"I thought you were being watched. I thought the safest thing I could do was disappear.""
Melissa folded her arms.
"Such a heroic story.""
Robert turned toward her.
"You know exactly what you did.""
She stepped closer.
"Do I?""
"Yes.""
"You have no proof.""
Robert reached into his coat and removed a small flash drive.
"Actually, I do.""
Melissa stopped smiling.
My father stared at the drive.
"What is that?""
"Copies of the original recordings from your wife's house.""
Daniel looked confused.
"Recordings?""
"Your wife installed a small camera in her study shortly before she died. She wanted to know who was entering the room.""
I felt cold all over.
"Did she record something?""
Robert nodded.
"Yes.""
He placed the drive on the table.
"But there's a problem.""
"What?"" my father asked.
"The original files are encrypted. I haven't been able to open all of them.""
Melissa suddenly grabbed the drive.
Robert caught her wrist.
"Don't.""
She pulled away.
"Give it to me!""
Daniel stepped between them.
"Melissa!""
She looked at him.
For the first time, her voice lost its sweetness completely.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?""
Daniel stared at her.
"I'm trying to find out what happened to my wife.""
Melissa shook her head.
"Your wife is dead. Nothing you do will bring her back.""
"Then why are you afraid of this drive?""
She said nothing.
My father looked at Robert.
"Where is the storage locker?""
"Westside Storage. But we shouldn't go tonight.""
"Why?""
"Because Melissa knows about it now.""
My father glanced toward the front window.
Outside, the black SUV was still parked in the driveway.
Then he looked at the security camera app.
"Someone has been watching this house.""
Robert nodded.
"That's why I came here.""
My father frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Robert took out his phone.
He opened an image and showed it to Daniel.
It was a photograph of our house.
Taken from across the street.
The timestamp was from three days earlier.
A man was standing beside a parked vehicle.
I recognized him.
He was the same man from the photograph beside Melissa and Lily.
"Who is that?"" I asked.
Robert answered.
"Marcus Bell.""
Melissa's former husband.
Daniel stared at the picture.
"Why is he watching my house?""
Robert looked toward Melissa.
"Because he believes Lily is here.""
My father turned.
"What?""
Melissa's face went rigid.
"Don't listen to him.""
Robert continued.
"Marcus has been looking for his daughter. He believes Melissa took her away from him.""
My stomach dropped.
"Is Lily missing?""
Melissa snapped.
"She's not missing!""
Everyone turned toward her.
She pressed her lips together.
Daniel took a step closer.
"Then where is she?""
"She's safe.""
"Where?""
"That's none of your business.""
Daniel stared at her.
"She's your daughter.""
Melissa's eyes flashed.
"And this is my family!""
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
She had said the same thing before.
That this house belonged to her.
That she wanted me gone.
Now I understood why.
She wasn't trying to become part of our family.
She was trying to control it.
My father looked at the photograph again.
"Where is Lily, Melissa?""
She refused to answer.
Then my phone vibrated.
I looked down.
An unknown number had sent me a message.
*Jaylen, this is Lily. Please don't tell Melissa I contacted you.*
My hands began shaking.
Another message arrived.
*I know what happened to your mother.*
I stared at the screen.
Then came a photograph.
It showed a little girl sitting in a bedroom, holding the same silver heart-shaped necklace.
But beneath the photograph was a handwritten note.
*Your mother didn't die because she was sick. She died because she found out who Melissa really was.*
I looked at Robert.
"Uncle Robert...""
He turned toward me.
I showed him the phone.
His face went pale.
"Where did you get that?""
"Someone named Lily sent it.""
Melissa suddenly rushed toward me.
"Give me that phone!""
I jumped backward.
My father caught her arm.
"Don't touch him!""
She struggled against his grip.
"Daniel, you don't understand! That girl is dangerous!""
My father tightened his hold.
"She's your daughter!""
Melissa stopped struggling.
Then she looked at me.
Her eyes were filled with hatred.
"Jaylen, listen carefully. Whatever she tells you, don't believe her.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because she wasn't there that night.""
"Then who was?""
Melissa's lips parted.
For a second, I thought she might finally tell the truth.
Instead, she looked at my father.
And whispered:
"Ask Daniel.""
My father released her arm.
"What?""
Melissa's voice trembled.
"Ask him why he was the last person to see your mother alive.""
I turned toward my father.
He looked at me.
Then at Robert.
And finally at the silver key on the table.
"Daniel?"" I whispered.
He sat down slowly.
"I was there," he said.
My chest tightened.
"At the hospital?""
He shook his head.
"No, Jaylen.""
He looked directly into my eyes.
"I was at the house that night.""
I couldn't speak.
He continued.
"Your mother called me at 9:42 p.m. She told me she had found something. She said she needed me to come home immediately.""
"Did you go?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother was standing in the study. She was holding a folder. She told me Melissa had been stealing money and that she had evidence.""
I looked toward Melissa.
She was completely still.
My father continued.
"We argued. I didn't believe her. I thought she was being paranoid because she hadn't been feeling well.""
He covered his face.
"Then I left.""
My voice cracked.
"You left Mom alone?""
He nodded.
"I thought she was safe.""
Robert stepped forward.
"Daniel, you didn't know what would happen.""
My father shook his head.
"I should have stayed.""
I stared at him.
"What time did you leave?""
"Just before eleven.""
"And when did Mom die?""
He looked at me.
"According to the report, shortly after midnight.""
I felt sick.
For years, I had believed my father was with my mother when she died.
But he had left her alone.
And now, Melissa was telling me something even worse.
"Daniel," she whispered, "you should tell him about the phone call.""
My father looked up.
"What phone call?""
"The one you received at 11:38 p.m.""
He went completely pale.
Robert slowly turned toward him.
"Daniel?""
My father didn't answer.
I looked between them.
"What phone call?""
Melissa smiled faintly.
"Your father didn't just leave your mother that night.""
She took a step closer.
"He received a call telling him to come back.""
My father closed his eyes.
Then he whispered:
"Because someone told me your mother was dead.""
I stared at him.
"Who called you?""
He opened his eyes.
His answer destroyed the last piece of certainty I had left.
"Your mother's phone.""
And before anyone could speak, the same unknown number sent me another message.
*Jaylen, don't trust your father. He knows who was holding the phone when your mother died.*
I slowly raised my eyes toward Daniel.
May you like
He was staring at my phone.
And he wasn't denying it.
