Chapter 9: The Night She Died
The word hung in the air.
*You.*
I couldn't tell whether Raymond meant me or Dad.
Then he said it.
“Nia.””
My blood ran cold.
Dad immediately stepped in front of me.
“No.””
Raymond's voice remained calm.
“She was supposed to die too.””
Vanessa started sobbing.
“Raymond, stop.””
“You should have listened to your sister.””
“She was wrong.””
“She was trying to save you.””
“She was trying to save Nia.””
Raymond laughed.
“She knew too much.””
Dad looked at Vanessa.
“What did my wife know?””
Vanessa wiped her tears.
“She knew Raymond had been stealing medication from the hospital.””
Raymond shouted, “Liar!””
“She found the records!””
“Shut up!””
“She was going to report you!””
Raymond slammed his fist against the door.
Vanessa screamed.
Dad pulled me farther back.
Derek moved beside us.
“Raymond,” he said, “you don't have to do this.””
“You stay out of it.””
“You're the one who brought me into this.””
“I needed someone to take the blame.””
Derek went still.
“For what?””
“The crash.””
Dad stared.
“What crash?””
Raymond laughed.
“Your wife's car didn't crash by accident.””
I felt sick.
“You caused it?””
Raymond didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
“Yes.””
Her voice was barely audible.
“He cut her brakes.””
Dad looked at her.
“You knew?””
“I found out later.””
“You knew?””
“I was terrified.””
“You let me believe my wife died in an accident.””
“I was trying to protect Nia.””
Dad's voice cracked.
“You keep saying that.””
“I didn't know what else to do.””
“You could have told me.””
“He threatened me.””
“With what?””
“He said he'd kill you.””
Dad looked toward the door.
“And you believed him?””
“Yes.””
Raymond shouted, “Because I would have!””
Silence.
Then Isaiah spoke.
“You're admitting it.””
Raymond stopped.
Isaiah held up his phone.
“I recorded everything.””
Raymond's expression changed.
Dad looked at Isaiah.
“Give me that.””
Isaiah shook his head.
“No.””
“Isaiah.””
“I sent it.””
“To who?””
“The police.””
Raymond stepped away from the door.
“You're bluffing.””
Isaiah swallowed.
“Maybe.””
Dad stared at him.
Isaiah whispered, “I wasn't.””
A distant siren sounded.
Raymond looked toward the street.
His face hardened.
“Where's the drive?””
Dad didn't answer.
“Marcus.””
“No.””
“I need it.””
“No.””
Raymond raised the gun.
Derek moved toward the door.
“Don't.””
“Stay back.””
“You're finished.””
Raymond's eyes narrowed.
“Not yet.””
He stepped off the porch.
Dad watched him through the glass.
“Where are you going?””
“To get what belongs to me.””
He turned.
Then suddenly ran toward the side of the house.
Dad opened the door.
“Stay inside!””
But Derek was already moving.
They disappeared around the corner.
Vanessa collapsed into a chair.
I ran to her.
“Where is he going?””
She looked at me.
“The garage.””
“Why?””
“There's something there.””
“What?””
She grabbed my wrist.
“The original hospital file.””
I stared at her.
“You still have it?””
“No.””
“Then who does?””
“Raymond.””
I looked toward the garage.
Isaiah stood beside me.
“We need to tell Dad.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because the file isn't the only thing in there.””
“What else?””
She looked terrified.
“A photograph.””
“Of what?””
“My mother.””
“No.””
Vanessa nodded.
“The night she died.””
I stared at her.
“How?””
“Raymond took it.””
“Why?””
“To prove she was alive after leaving the hospital.””
I didn't understand.
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Your mother wasn't killed in the crash.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What?””
“She survived the crash.””
Isaiah stared.
“Then how did she die?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“She was alive when Raymond took her out of the car.””
My whole body went cold.
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You said you saw Dad leave the house.””
“I did.””
“Then what happened?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
A gunshot exploded outside.
I screamed.
Isaiah grabbed me.
Dad shouted from the driveway.
“Stay inside!””
Another shot.
Then silence.
I ran to the window.
Dad stood near the garage.
Derek was on the ground.
Raymond was gone.
The garage door was open.
Dad turned and saw me.
“Nia, get back!””
I didn't listen.
I ran outside.
Derek was bleeding from his shoulder.
“Dad!””
“Call 911!””
“I already did!””
Derek grabbed my hand.
“Nia.””
“What?””
“Your mother…”
He struggled to breathe.
“What about her?””
“She didn't die in the car.””
“I know.””
“No.””
His eyes locked onto mine.
“You don't understand.””
“What?””
“She was alive for six hours.””
I froze.
“Six hours?””
He nodded.
“Raymond took her somewhere.””
“Where?””
Derek's face twisted with pain.
“He told me once.””
“Where?””
“I don't remember.””
Dad crouched beside him.
“Derek.””
Derek looked at him.
“I swear I never touched her.””
Dad stared.
“I know.””
Derek looked surprised.
“You believe me?””
“I believe enough.””
Derek closed his eyes.
Then he whispered, “The old Miller property.””
Vanessa suddenly screamed from the doorway.
“No.””
Dad turned.
“What?””
She was shaking.
“The Miller property was demolished years ago.””
Derek shook his head.
“Not all of it.””
He pointed toward the road.
“The basement is still there.””
Dad looked at Vanessa.
“What's at the Miller property?””
Vanessa couldn't answer.
I did.
“Where is it?””
She whispered an address.
Dad stood.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice came through.
Weak.
Breathless.
“Marcus?””
Dad froze.
I stared at him.
He put the phone on speaker.
The voice came again.
“It's me.””
Dad's face turned white.
“No.””
The woman started crying.
“I tried to call you.””
Dad couldn't speak.
I stepped closer.
“Who is it?””
The woman whispered my name.
“Nia.””
My knees nearly gave out.
I knew that voice.
I hadn't heard it since I was eight.
But some part of me remembered.
My mother's voice.
She whispered one final sentence.
“Raymond didn't kill me.””
Then the call abruptly disconnected.
Dad stared at the phone.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Isaiah whispered, “She's alive.””
Derek looked at me.
And before anyone could move, another message appeared on Dad's screen.
*UNKNOWN: Come to the Miller property alone.*
Then another.
*UNKNOWN: Bring the original DNA report.*
May you like
And finally:
*UNKNOWN: If you bring the police, your mother dies tonight.*