Chapter 7 - Room 214
The key belonged to a private records facility downtown.
Richard Sloan leased Room 214.
Lawyers handled access legally.
Inside were file cabinets.
Dozens.
Families.
Trusts.
Custody documents.
And one locked cabinet labeled CARTER.
The brass key opened it.
First folder:
LILY.
Birth records.
Corrected DNA report.
My paternity probability greater than 99.99%.
No question.
My daughter.
Second folder:
ETHAN.
Why did Richard maintain a separate file on him?
Medical releases.
School records.
Rachel's estate documents.
Then a photograph.
Rachel standing beside Lily.
Taken six years ago.
Before Rachel died.
I stared until my vision blurred.
My first wife knew Lily.
On the back:
RACHEL MET HER.
Dad’s handwriting.
Third folder:
RACHEL.
And beneath it:
ACCIDENT.
My hands shook.
Police report.
Road photographs.
Insurance.
Nothing obviously unusual.
Then an independent mechanic report never included in the official case.
BRAKE LINE TAMPERING CANNOT BE EXCLUDED.
I sat down.
Rachel's crash had been ruled loss of control on wet roads.
No criminal finding.
This report didn't prove murder.
But someone had hidden it.
Richard.
Then an audio recorder.
Dad's voice:
“Richard says I should let Rachel’s death rest. I can't.”
My throat closed.
Dad continued.
“Rachel found out about Lily.”
Of course.
“She wanted Daniel told immediately.”
Then:
“Richard opposed it because Lily’s trust status would trigger an audit.”
There.
Money.
Again.
“If the audit happens, Richard’s withdrawals become visible.”
Dad knew.
“Rachel said she would tell Daniel herself.”
Recording ended.
I stared at the accident folder.
No proof Richard caused the crash.
But motive existed.
And Dad suspected him enough to investigate.
Then another audio file.
Rachel's voice.
My dead wife.
“Robert, if something happens before I tell Daniel…”
I stopped breathing.
“…make sure Ethan knows he has another sister.”
That explained Ethan.
Rachel had left something for him.
Maybe he remembered fragments.
Maybe someone showed him later.
Then:
“Lily deserves her father.”
My eyes burned.
And finally:
“Richard is watching the house.”
The recording cut.
Michael whispered:
“Daniel.”
“What?”
He was staring toward Room 214's doorway.
Someone had been standing there.
Gone now.
On the floor outside sat a red envelope.
My name on it.
Inside:
May you like
STOP LOOKING FOR LILY OR ETHAN LOSES ANOTHER MOTHER.
Vanessa.
