Chapter 5: The Last Person Lily Saw
Officer Brooks arrived twenty minutes later with another detective.
His expression changed when Marcus showed him the photograph.
“Where did this come from?””
“An unknown number.””
“Did you respond?””
“No.””
“Good. Forward the original message to me.””
Marcus did as instructed.
Detective Laura Bennett examined the photograph on her tablet.
“That's definitely the pediatric ward,” she said.
“We need the hospital's original surveillance footage.””
Officer Brooks nodded.
“We've already requested it.””
Marcus paced between the sofa and the fireplace.
“Can we arrest her now?””
Officer Brooks looked at him.
“Not on the basis of this photograph alone.””
“She was in the room!””
“We know she visited. We need to establish what happened while she was there.””
“She gave my daughter something!””
“We have a nurse's statement suggesting that possibility. That's significant, but we need the medical and forensic evidence.””
Marcus turned away.
Detective Bennett stepped closer.
“Mr. Hale, I know you're angry. But if we move too quickly without securing the evidence, we risk giving whoever did this an opportunity to destroy something important.””
Marcus stopped pacing.
“Then tell me what you need.””
“We need everything. Your old phone, account records, financial documents, messages with Vanessa, and any information about Lily's treatment.””
Claire rose.
“I have Lily's medical folder.””
“Could we see it?””
“Of course.””
She went upstairs.
Marcus remained with the officers.
“There's something else,” he said.
Officer Brooks looked at him.
“Go ahead.””
“Vanessa knew things about Lily's treatment that I didn't even know.””
“What things?””
“Her medication schedule. Her doctor's appointments. The names of her nurses.””
“Did you tell her?””
“No. Claire might have mentioned some of it, but…”
He stopped.
“What?””
“Vanessa used to ask me whether Lily was getting better.””
Officer Brooks waited.
Marcus continued.
“She would ask whether the doctors had changed her medication. She seemed unusually interested.””
Detective Bennett exchanged a glance with her colleague.
“Did she ever offer to help with hospital arrangements?””
Marcus nodded.
“She offered to organize some paperwork. She said she had experience dealing with insurance companies.””
“Did you give her access to Lily's records?””
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
Then he remembered something.
A month earlier, Vanessa had accompanied him to the house while Claire was at the hospital.
She had asked where Lily kept her schoolbag.
She had said she wanted to put a little present inside.
Marcus had allowed it.
He had never checked what she put there.
Before he could explain, Claire returned carrying a thick folder.
She placed it on the table.
“Everything is here.””
Detective Bennett opened it.
There were hospital reports, appointment cards, medication instructions, and handwritten notes.
She examined the documents carefully.
Then she stopped at one page.
“Who wrote this?””
Claire leaned forward.
“I did.””
The page contained a list of medications Lily had been prescribed.
At the bottom, Claire had written:
Do not allow visitors to administer anything without checking with the nurse.
Detective Bennett looked up.
“Why did you write that?””
Claire swallowed.
“Because someone had already brought Lily something once.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“What?””
Claire looked at him.
“I didn't want to frighten you.””
“Claire, what happened?””
She took a breath.
“Three weeks before Lily died, I found a bottle of children's sleep supplements in her bedside drawer.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who bought them?””
“I asked Lily. She said Vanessa had given them to her.””
Marcus stared.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I called you.””
“You never mentioned a bottle.””
“I told you someone was giving Lily things without my permission. You said I was overreacting.””
Marcus remembered.
He had been in the middle of a meeting.
He had told Claire to stop turning everything into a problem.
His stomach tightened.
“What did you do with the bottle?””
“I threw it away.””
“Did Lily take any?””
“I don't think so. She told me Vanessa said they were vitamins.””
Detective Bennett immediately wrote something down.
“Do you remember the brand?””
Claire shook her head.
“It was a small white bottle with a pink label.””
“Did you take a photograph?””
“No.””
The detective looked toward Officer Brooks.
“We need to follow up with the hospital toxicology team.””
Marcus sat down.
He felt as though every minute of Lily's life was returning to him in fragments.
Every missed call.
Every ignored warning.
Every time Claire had tried to tell him something.
And every time he had chosen not to listen.
Then Claire reached into the folder and removed a small notebook.
“This belonged to Lily.””
Marcus recognized it.
A pink notebook with a cartoon rabbit on the cover.
“What is it?””
“Her diary. She called it her secret book.””
Detective Bennett asked permission before opening it.
The first few pages contained drawings and short sentences.
Today Daddy took me for ice cream.
Mommy made pancakes.
I want a puppy.
Then the handwriting became less cheerful.
Vanessa came today. She said Daddy is tired.
A few pages later:
Vanessa said Mommy makes Daddy sad.
Marcus closed his eyes.
Detective Bennett turned another page.
I don't want Daddy to be sad.
Then, on a page dated the previous Friday:
Vanessa said if I keep calling Daddy, he will stop loving me.
Claire covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at the sentence.
The detective turned one final page.
It was dated Monday.
The day Lily died.
The handwriting was shaky.
I asked Vanessa if Daddy was coming.
Beneath it:
She said Daddy told her he doesn't want to hear from me.
Marcus's eyes filled.
Then he noticed another line.
She said she could make me sleep until he comes back.
Detective Bennett stopped reading.
Nobody moved.
The room seemed to shrink around them.
Officer Brooks quietly photographed the page.
“That's enough for now,” he said.
Marcus looked at him.
“Can we prove what she gave Lily?””
“We'll ask the medical examiner to compare the available evidence with the hospital records.””
“Please.””
Officer Brooks nodded.
“We will.””
A knock came from the front door.
One of the officers stationed outside entered.
“Sir, there's someone here asking to speak with Marcus Hale.””
“Who?””
The officer hesitated.
“Vanessa Reed.””
Marcus stood so quickly his chair fell backward.
“She's here?””
Officer Brooks raised his hand.
“Stay where you are.””
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
She wasn't wearing the cream blouse anymore.
Instead, she wore a dark coat and sunglasses.
Her hair was tied back.
She looked directly at Marcus.
“Can we talk?””
He stared at her.
“You have some nerve coming here.””
Vanessa glanced at the detectives.
“I came because I heard the police were asking questions about me.””
Officer Brooks stepped forward.
“Ms. Reed, we asked you to arrange any further communication through your attorney.””
“I know. But I wanted Marcus to hear the truth from me.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“The truth?””
“Yes.””
“Tell me why you sent my daughter that message.””
Vanessa removed her sunglasses.
Her eyes were red.
“I didn't send it.””
Marcus pointed at the evidence photograph on the table.
“Then explain that.””
“I was visiting Lily.””
“Using Claire's name?””
“I didn't want to create problems at the hospital.””
“You told her I didn't want her to call me!””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“Protect me?””
“You were under so much pressure. Claire was constantly calling. Your business was falling apart. You told me you couldn't take it anymore.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I never told you to hurt my daughter.””
“I didn't hurt her.””
“Then why did she write that you told her I didn't love her?””
Vanessa looked at Claire.
“Children misunderstand things.””
Claire stepped forward.
“She understood perfectly.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Claire, please. You've spent years trying to destroy my relationship with Marcus.””
Claire's voice was almost calm.
“I never needed to destroy anything. You did that yourself.””
Vanessa turned back to Marcus.
“Listen to me. I made mistakes. I shouldn't have gotten involved in your family problems. But I never wanted Lily to die.””
Marcus studied her face.
“Then what happened in that room?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I gave her something to help her sleep.””
The room went silent.
Detective Bennett stepped forward.
“What exactly did you give her?””
“Just something harmless.””
“What was it?””
“I don't remember the name.””
“Where did you get it?””
Vanessa looked toward Marcus.
“From a pharmacy.””
“Did a doctor prescribe it?””
“No.””
“Did you tell the hospital staff?””
“No, but—”
Officer Brooks interrupted.
“Ms. Reed, you need to stop answering questions until you've spoken with your attorney.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't know she would react like that.””
Marcus felt his legs weaken.
“What did you give my daughter?””
“I said I didn't know!””
“You just admitted you gave her something!””
Vanessa covered her face.
“I thought she'd sleep. I thought she'd be fine.””
Detective Bennett exchanged a look with Officer Brooks.
Then she asked:
“Did you give Lily the medication before or after you sent the message from Mr. Hale's account?””
Vanessa froze.
Marcus stared at her.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Finally, she whispered:
“I didn't send that message.””
“Then who did?””
Vanessa looked directly at Marcus.
For the first time, her expression wasn't defensive.
It was terrified.
“Your daughter did.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“She was holding your old phone. I only told her what you wanted her to know.””
“That makes no sense.””
Vanessa began shaking her head.
“She saw the message. She was crying. I told her to stop calling because you needed space.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You're lying.””
“I didn't type those words!””
“Then who did?””
Vanessa looked at Claire.
Then at Marcus.
And finally, she said something nobody expected.
“Claire did.””
Claire went completely still.
“What?””
Vanessa pointed at her.
“She knew about the message. She knew what was happening. She wanted you to blame me.””
Officer Brooks immediately moved between them.
“Ms. Reed, don't make accusations without evidence.””
Vanessa began backing toward the door.
“I'm telling you the truth!””
Marcus looked at Claire.
Her face had gone pale.
Then Detective Bennett opened Lily's diary again.
She turned to the final page and noticed a faint indentation beneath the writing.
It looked like someone had pressed a pen against the page while writing on another sheet.
She angled the notebook toward the light.
A name slowly became visible in the indentation.
Not Vanessa.
Not Marcus.
A third name.
*REBECCA.*
The nurse.
May you like
And beneath it were four words.
She told me everything.
