Chapter 3 - What Melissa Found
I let Melissa inside.
She sat at the kitchen table.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then she placed a small envelope in front of me.
“I found this in Mom's desk.”
I didn't touch it.
“What is it?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why bring it to me?”
“Because it has Ethan's name on it.”
My hands went cold.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
If anything happens to me, make sure Claire knows the truth.
Ethan's handwriting.
I knew it instantly.
My vision blurred.
“When did he write this?”
Melissa shook her head.
“I don't know.”
I read the rest.
There are people around us I don't trust.
My heart pounded.
“Where did you find this?”
“Behind a false panel in Mom's desk.”
“Why were you looking?”
Melissa looked ashamed.
“Because Dad has been acting strange.”
I stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
“He's been meeting someone.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
She pulled out her phone.
“There.”
A photograph.
My father standing beside a man near a parking garage.
I recognized the man.
The owner of the trucking company.
My stomach turned.
“How long?”
“Three months.”
“Before the settlement?”
“Yes.”
I stood.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of Dad?”
“Yes.”
That answer hurt more than I expected.
Melissa wiped her eyes.
“I know what you think of me.”
“I don't know what to think anymore.”
“I should have gone to the funeral.”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“I should have.”
“You should have.”
She began crying.
“I was jealous.”
I stared at her.
“Of what?”
“Of you.”
I couldn't understand.
“You had Ethan. You had children. You had a family.”
“You think I was jealous enough to let them die?”
“No.”
She shook her head quickly.
“No. Never.”
“Then what?”
“Dad always said you were the responsible one. The successful one. The daughter who made him proud.”
I laughed sadly.
“I never knew that.”
“Because he never said it to you.”
She took a breath.
“After the accident, they started talking about your settlement.”
My stomach tightened.
“How much did they know?”
“Everything.”
“Who told them?”
“I think Dad knew before you did.”
I stared at her.
“How?”
Melissa lowered her voice.
“Because he had access to Ethan's insurance paperwork.”
I felt sick.
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
“Claire, we found something.”
“What?”
“The mechanic who supposedly inspected the truck has disappeared.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“He left town two days ago.”
“Do you know where?”
“Not yet.”
Then Daniel said:
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“The truck driver didn't fall asleep.”
Silence.
“What do you mean?”
“He was drugged.”
I closed my eyes.
The room seemed to tilt.
Someone had deliberately caused the accident.
Someone had wanted Ethan and my children dead.
But why?
Daniel continued.
“We're checking Ethan's business records.”
“Why would Ethan be connected?”
“I don't know.”
I looked at the note.
There are people around us I don't trust.
Suddenly, I remembered something Ethan had said two weeks before he died.
He had come home late.
He looked exhausted.
I asked what was wrong.
He kissed my forehead and said:
“Claire, if anything ever happens to me, don't trust anyone just because they're family.”
At the time, I had laughed.
Now I couldn't.
Melissa stood.
“I need to tell you one more thing.”
“What?”
“Dad knew Ethan was investigating something.”
I stared at her.
“Investigating what?”
May you like
She whispered:
“The company that caused the crash.”
