Chapter 3: The Woman in the Video
The next morning, I watched Lily’s recording seventeen times.
Each time, I hoped I had misunderstood.
Each time, I heard the same thing.
Rachel wasn’t Jason’s secret.
She was something worse.
I met Daniel at a small coffee shop outside town.
Somewhere public.
Somewhere Jason wouldn’t expect.
He arrived carrying a folder.
“I found something,” he said.
He slid a document across the table.
“What is it?””
“Rachel Morgan’s employment history.””
I scanned the page.
Office assistant.
Marketing coordinator.
Several companies.
Nothing unusual.
“Why does this matter?””
Daniel tapped one line.
“Because she changed her name.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Her real name is Rachel Whitmore.””
The name meant nothing.
But Daniel’s expression told me it should.
“Who is Rachel Whitmore?””
Daniel opened the folder.
Inside was a newspaper article.
My hands went cold.
The headline read:
LOCAL WOMAN CONNECTED TO FINANCIAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION.
I looked at Daniel.
“What does this have to do with Lily?””
“That’s what we need to find out.””
I studied the article.
Rachel had worked for a company that handled insurance claims.
The same company Jason had recently started working with.
A connection.
Small.
But there.
Then my phone buzzed.
A text message.
From Jason.
Emily.
We need to talk.
I stared at the screen.
Daniel noticed.
“Don’t answer.””
“I need to know what he wants.””
“No. You need to know what he thinks you know.””
I looked at him.
“What’s the difference?””
Daniel leaned back.
“The difference is whether he is trying to fix something or protect himself.””
Ten minutes later, I was sitting across from Jason in the parking lot of a closed diner.
I hated myself for coming.
But I needed to see his face.
I needed to know if Lily was right.
Jason looked exhausted.
Not like a grieving husband.
Like someone who hadn’t slept because he was afraid.
“Emily,” he said.
I didn’t respond.
He looked down.
“I know you’re angry.””
“Angry?””
My voice broke.
“My sister is dead.””
“I know.””
“You brought another woman to her funeral.””
His jaw tightened.
“That’s not what you think.””
“Then tell me what I’m supposed to think.””
Jason looked around.
Then lowered his voice.
“Rachel was helping me.””
I almost laughed.
“Helping you?””
“Yes.””
“With what?””
He hesitated.
And that hesitation told me everything.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Jason rubbed his face.
“Lily was sick.””
My entire body went still.
“What?””
“She was paranoid.””
“No.””
“She thought everyone was against her.””
“You’re lying.””
His expression changed.
“You always thought Lily was perfect.””
“She was my sister.””
“And you didn’t see what was happening.””
I stared at him.
“You mean you did?””
Jason looked away.
That was the moment I knew.
He knew something.
“Jason,” I said quietly, “what happened on those stairs?””
His face went blank.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Then he stood.
“I can’t do this.””
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Because you have no idea what Lily found.””
My heartbeat stopped.
“What did she find?””
Jason walked away.
Then he turned back.
“Ask yourself why she was recording me.””
I stayed frozen.
Because he had just admitted something.
Something he shouldn’t have known.
I never told him about the recording.
I never told anyone except Daniel.
When I got back to my car, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
This time, I answered immediately.
“Who are you?””
The woman from before spoke.
“I’m Rachel.””
I gripped the phone.
“Rachel?””
“Yes.””
“Why are you calling me?””
Her voice shook.
“Because Lily was right.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“About what?””
Rachel whispered:
“Jason didn’t push your sister.””
I closed my eyes.
For one second, relief came.
May you like
Then Rachel finished:
“But he knows who did.””
