Chapter 2: The Voicemail Nobody Was Supposed to Hear
"That's impossible.""
Vanessa's voice cracked.
She stood beside Marcus, clutching the strap of her handbag so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Officer Reynolds didn't move.
"Would you like to explain why your device was connected to the account?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know anything about that.""
Marcus stared at her.
"You told me you had never spoken to Lily.""
"I hadn't.""
"Then why would your device be connected to her account?""
"Marcus, listen to me. This is some kind of mistake.""
Emily let out a bitter laugh.
"A mistake? My daughter is dead, and you're standing here talking about a mistake?""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"Don't put this on me.""
Emily took one step forward.
"Then tell us what happened.""
Officer Reynolds raised a hand.
"Everyone needs to remain calm. We are not making accusations. We're establishing a timeline.""
She placed three photographs on the coffee table.
The first showed Lily's bedroom.
The second showed a hospital corridor.
The third showed a screenshot of a deleted voicemail notification.
Marcus picked up the third photograph.
"What is this?""
"A voicemail Lily attempted to send to your number at 8:16 p.m. on October fourteenth.""
Marcus looked confused.
"I didn't receive a voicemail.""
"That's correct. The voicemail was deleted before it reached your account.""
He looked up sharply.
"How?""
Officer Reynolds pointed to the screen.
"The deletion request came from a device associated with your account's secondary access.""
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
She immediately shook her head.
"I didn't delete anything.""
"Then why does the report say your device did?""
"I don't know!""
Her voice rose.
For a moment, the living room felt too small for everyone inside it.
Emily sank back onto the sofa.
She stared at Lily's photograph.
"She recorded that message in the hospital.""
Marcus turned.
"What hospital?""
Emily looked at him.
"The hospital where she spent her last night.""
He stepped closer.
"Why didn't you tell me she was in the hospital?""
Emily laughed through her tears.
"I DID tell you!""
She reached for a small drawer beneath the side table and pulled out a thick envelope.
Inside were printed screenshots of text messages.
She placed them in front of him.
October 14, 5:12 p.m.
Marcus, Lily's fever is getting worse. Please call me.
October 14, 5:39 p.m.
We're taking her to St. Mary's. She keeps asking for you.
October 14, 6:04 p.m.
Please, Marcus. I'm scared.
October 14, 7:42 p.m.
She wants to hear your voice.
Then came the reply.
DON'T CALL ME AGAIN.
Marcus read it twice.
His fingers began to tremble.
"Emily...""
She didn't look at him.
"I called your office. I called your assistant. I even called your mother because I didn't know what else to do.""
Marcus sat down.
His mother?
He hadn't heard anything from her about Lily.
"Did Mom know?""
Emily nodded.
"She called me back at eight.""
Marcus looked up.
"What did she say?""
Emily hesitated.
Then she pulled another screenshot from the envelope.
"She said you were busy and that I needed to stop using Lily to interfere with your new relationship.""
Marcus's head snapped up.
"She said what?""
Emily handed him the paper.
It was a text from his mother, Patricia.
Emily, Marcus has finally found happiness. Please stop dragging him into your problems. Lily needs to understand that her parents are no longer together.
Marcus stared at the screen.
His mother had known.
She had known Lily was sick.
And she had chosen not to tell him.
He pressed both palms against his forehead.
"This can't be happening.""
Officer Reynolds spoke gently.
"Mr. Hale, we need to know whether your mother had access to your phone or your accounts.""
"No.""
"Anyone else?""
Marcus looked toward Vanessa.
She was staring at the floor.
"Vanessa had my phone password.""
Emily's eyes narrowed.
"Why?""
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was embarrassing.
Three months earlier, Vanessa had helped him organize his finances after his company underwent a restructuring. He had given her access to his laptop, his email, and several personal accounts.
He trusted her.
He had even considered marrying her.
"She knew my passwords," he finally said.
Vanessa's head lifted.
"Marcus, don't.""
He looked at her.
"Don't what?""
"Don't make this sound like I did something wrong.""
"Then explain the message.""
Vanessa took a breath.
"I told you. I didn't send it.""
Officer Reynolds stepped toward the coffee table.
"Miss Cole, I'd like you to accompany us to the station for a formal interview.""
Vanessa's face changed.
"Am I being arrested?""
"Not at this moment.""
Marcus stood.
"Why would you need to question her if she didn't do anything?""
Officer Reynolds gave him a careful look.
"Because the device linked to the deleted voicemail belonged to her.""
Vanessa grabbed Marcus's sleeve.
"Tell her I didn't do it.""
He looked down at her hand.
For the first time, he didn't immediately reassure her.
"Did you?""
She released him.
"How can you even ask me that?""
"Because Lily is dead.""
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she turned toward Emily.
"You never wanted Marcus to move on. You always hated me.""
Emily's face remained still.
"I didn't know you existed until six months ago. My daughter knew you existed because she wanted to meet you. She even made you a birthday card.""
Vanessa blinked.
"What?""
Emily reached into the envelope again.
This time, she pulled out a folded piece of pink construction paper.
It had glitter around the edges.
The front read:
FOR VANESSA.
Inside, a child's handwriting said:
Hi Vanessa. I hope you like me. Daddy says you make him happy. Maybe one day we can all have pancakes together.
Marcus took the card.
A tear fell onto the paper.
He recognized Lily's handwriting.
He had helped her practice those letters.
Vanessa looked away.
Emily's voice softened.
"She wanted to like you.""
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
"Did you ever see this?""
Vanessa said nothing.
"Did Lily give it to you?""
Still nothing.
Officer Reynolds gently took the card from Marcus and placed it back in the envelope.
"There's one more thing we need to discuss.""
She opened a second folder.
"At 9:03 p.m. on October fourteenth, someone called the hospital using a number associated with your household account.""
Marcus frowned.
"What did they say?""
"They asked whether Lily Hale was still conscious.""
Emily looked up.
"I never made that call.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I was at the hotel.""
Officer Reynolds turned toward Vanessa.
"Miss Cole, do you remember making any calls that evening?""
Vanessa's lips parted.
Then she looked at Marcus.
"I was trying to protect you.""
The room went completely silent.
Marcus stepped toward her.
"Protect me from what?""
She swallowed.
"From Emily. From the constant drama. From being pulled back into a life you didn't want.""
Marcus's voice dropped.
"That wasn't the question.""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't know she was going to die.""
Emily stood so quickly that the envelope fell to the floor.
"What did you do?""
Vanessa backed away.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen.""
Marcus felt the room tilt.
"What did you do, Vanessa?""
She covered her face.
"I only wanted her to stop calling.""
Officer Reynolds moved closer.
"Are you admitting you sent the message?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I didn't send it.""
"Then what do you mean by you wanted her to stop calling?""
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
"She kept calling while we were at dinner. You were getting upset. You said you couldn't stand another night of Emily ruining everything.""
Marcus remembered that conversation.
He had complained about the repeated calls.
He had said he wanted peace.
But he had never asked Vanessa to contact Lily.
"I never told you to answer her phone," he said.
"I know.""
"Then why?""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Because you were finally happy.""
Emily stared at her.
"My daughter was dying.""
Vanessa's voice became almost inaudible.
"I didn't know how serious it was.""
Officer Reynolds picked up her radio.
"Dispatch, I need the digital forensics team to confirm the account access records.""
Then she looked at Marcus.
"Mr. Hale, do you still have the original phone you used on October fourteenth?""
"Yes. It's in my office.""
"Can someone retrieve it?""
Marcus nodded.
But Vanessa suddenly stepped between him and the door.
"Wait.""
Everyone turned.
Her eyes were wide.
"There's something you don't understand.""
Marcus stared at her.
"What?""
Vanessa looked at Officer Reynolds, then back at him.
"The message wasn't the worst thing that happened that night.""
Emily's knees seemed to weaken.
Officer Reynolds moved closer.
"Explain.""
Vanessa began to cry.
"Lily didn't just call Marcus.""
She paused.
"She called me.""
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
"What?""
Vanessa looked down at the floor.
"She called me from the hospital.""
Emily's face went white.
"How do you know?""
Vanessa whispered:
"Because I answered.""
And then she revealed the one sentence Lily had said that changed everything.
"She asked me if I could please tell her daddy that she wasn't angry with him.""
Marcus grabbed the edge of the table.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Vanessa looked up.
"Because...""
May you like
Her voice broke.
"Because I was the one who told her you didn't want to speak to her.""
