Chapter 8: The Recording That Changed Everything

The flash drive sat on the table like a bomb.

Nobody wanted to touch it.

Because everyone knew.

Once we heard what was inside, there would be no going back.

Detective Harris connected it to his computer.

The screen flickered.

A single audio file appeared.

Created two years earlier.

The date of the crash.

Emily reached for my hand.

I held it.

The recording started.

At first, there was only static.

Then voices.

Rebecca.

And Thomas.

“I told you this was too risky.””

Thomas sounded nervous.

Rebecca sounded calm.

“You always underestimate me.””

My entire body froze.

It was her voice.

The same voice that had told Lily to call her Mom.

The same voice that had lied to my face.

“I don’t understand why she had to disappear completely,” Thomas said.

Rebecca laughed.

“Because Daniel would never stop loving her.””

A silence followed.

Then Thomas asked:

“And the girl?””

My blood ran cold.

“Lily?””

“Yes.””

Rebecca’s voice became colder.

“She’s a problem.””

Emily covered her mouth.

I felt rage burning inside me.

Thomas on the recording sounded disturbed.

“She’s just a child.””

“And children grow up.””

The recording continued.

“She will forget.””

“No,” Thomas said.

“She won’t.””

Rebecca laughed.

“She’s six years old.””

I stopped listening for a second.

Because the idea that someone had looked at my daughter and seen an obstacle made me sick.

Then came the sentence that changed everything.

Thomas asked:

“What if Emily survived?””

Rebecca answered immediately.

“She won’t.””

Emily gasped.

The recording continued.

“I checked.””

Thomas became quiet.

Then Rebecca said:

“By morning, she’ll either be dead or nobody will believe her.””

The audio ended.

Nobody spoke.

Detective Harris looked shaken.

“That’s enough for multiple charges.””

But Emily wasn’t looking at him.

She was looking at me.

“I’m sorry.””

I frowned.

“For what?””

“For almost leaving you.””

I took her hand.

“You survived.””

“No.””

She shook her head.

“I spent two years forgetting you.””

Tears filled her eyes.

“I missed Lily growing up.””

I looked at my wife.

“You came back.””

That was all that mattered.

But before we could leave, Detective Harris stopped us.

“There’s something else.””

I turned.

“What?””

He looked uncomfortable.

“The recording proves Rebecca was involved.””

“Yes?””

“But Thomas mentioned someone else.””

I remembered.

Rebecca’s father.

“What about him?””

Detective Harris hesitated.

“We found a lead.””

“Where?””

“A property registered under a false name.””

Emily looked at me.

“Whose?””

The detective opened a file.

And placed a photograph on the table.

A photograph of an old house.

My stomach dropped.

Because I knew that house.

I had been there before.

Years ago.

Rebecca had taken me there during our relationship.

She told me it belonged to a distant relative.

Detective Harris spoke quietly.

“The owner is listed as Edward Voss.””

Rebecca’s father.

Alive.

Waiting.

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