Chapter 9: The Sister Nobody Knew
Nobody spoke.
I stared at the photograph.
Two sisters.
One dead.
One alive.
Except now I wasn't sure which was which.
The woman standing beside me—Simone—looked at the image and slowly sat down.
Vanessa backed away.
Derrick whispered, “There were always two.””
I turned toward him.
“What?””
He looked at Vanessa.
“She never told you?””
“No.””
“Then you deserve to hear it.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Derrick, please.””
He ignored her.
“Vanessa and Simone had a half-sister.””
I looked at the photograph.
“The woman in the car.””
Simone nodded.
“Her name is Selena.””
I frowned.
“Why didn't I know?””
“Because Mom erased her.””
Helen's face had gone pale.
I looked at her.
“You have another daughter?””
She said nothing.
Simone continued.
“Selena was born before Vanessa. She was sent away when she was sixteen.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew too much.””
Helen finally spoke.
“That's not true.””
Simone turned toward her.
“You told her she was crazy.””
“I protected her.””
“You locked her in a psychiatric facility.””
Helen's expression hardened.
“She was unstable.””
“She was seventeen.””
Vanessa whispered, “Stop.””
I looked at her.
“You knew about Selena.””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“My whole life.””
“And you never told me.””
“I was told she'd come after us.””
“By your mother?””
Vanessa nodded.
I looked at Helen.
“Why is she with Raymond and Daniel?””
“I don't know.””
Simone laughed.
“You know exactly why.””
Helen snapped, “You don't know what you're talking about.””
Simone stood.
“You've spent three years hiding me. You forged Marcus's divorce. You poisoned his father.
You ordered his brakes cut. You used Daniel to steal from his company.””
She pointed toward the photograph.
“And now Selena is using the same people against you.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Why?””
Simone's voice lowered.
“Because Selena doesn't want money.””
“Then what does she want?””
“Revenge.””
Helen whispered, “She wants me dead.””
I looked at her.
“And you're afraid.””
Helen didn't answer.
The restaurant was nearly empty now.
Most diners had left.
A manager stood several tables away, watching us nervously.
I folded my father's letter.
“I'm going to find Daniel.””
Helen shook her head.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
“Daniel isn't working for Selena.””
“Who is he working for?””
Helen looked at me.
“He's working for you.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He has access to your company because you gave it to him.””
“I trusted him.””
“Yes.””
“That's not what you mean.””
Helen stepped closer.
“Three years ago, Daniel discovered the money transfers.””
“So?””
“He blackmailed me.””
I stared.
“He knew about everything.””
“He knew about the money?””
“He knew about your father.””
My stomach dropped.
“And he knew about the accident.””
“Yes.””
“And he used that against you?””
“Yes.””
“For three years?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Simone.
“Why would he suddenly work with Selena?””
“Because Selena offered him more.””
Derrick shook his head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
“What?”” I asked.
Derrick took out his phone.
“I've been tracking Daniel.””
I stared.
“For how long?””
“Three months.””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa asked me to.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I needed to know where the money was going.””
Derrick opened an app.
A map appeared.
Several locations were marked.
He zoomed in.
“This is Daniel's office.””
Another marker.
“This is Raymond's house.””
Another.
“This is where Selena has been staying.””
I stared at the location.
It was only fifteen minutes from the restaurant.
“She's close.””
“Yes.””
I looked at Simone.
“Why would she come here?””
“To watch us.””
“Why?””
“Because she wanted to see whether I'd bring you.””
I frowned.
“Why me?””
Simone took a slow breath.
“Because you're the only person she believes can destroy Helen.””
I looked at Helen.
“You knew that?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't you run?””
Helen smiled sadly.
“Because there is nowhere to run from family.””
The sentence sounded almost human.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
She didn't answer.
I reached for the phone.
Helen pulled it away.
The screen showed a blocked number.
She answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a woman's voice.
“Hello, Mother.””
Helen's face went white.
Selena.
Helen turned away from us.
“Where are you?””
A soft laugh came through the speaker.
“Look behind you.””
Helen froze.
So did I.
We all turned toward the restaurant windows.
Across the street, a black SUV was parked beneath a tree.
A woman sat in the driver's seat.
She raised one hand.
Then the SUV pulled away.
Helen dropped the phone.
Simone whispered, “She's leaving.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“I'm going after her.””
Vanessa caught my arm.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because that's what she wants.””
“Then what do you suggest?””
Vanessa stared at me.
“I think you should listen to the rest of Dad's letter.””
I froze.
“There is more?””
She nodded.
Derrick reached into his jacket.
“There are three pages.””
He handed me the rest.
I unfolded them.
The second page began:
*Marcus, the person who betrayed you will not be the person you expect.*
I looked at Vanessa.
The third page was missing.
“Where is page three?””
Derrick looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa's face went pale.
“I don't have it.””
I stared at her.
“You said there were three pages.””
“There were.””
“Where is the third?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Simone stepped forward.
“Marcus.””
I turned.
She looked frightened.
“Page three was the reason I disappeared.””
“Why?””
“Because it named the person who actually ordered the accident.””
I looked at Helen.
She whispered, “It wasn't me.””
I stared at her.
“You just admitted it.””
“I admitted I gave the order.””
“But someone else gave you the order.””
Helen nodded.
“Who?””
She looked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Mom, don't.””
Helen's voice trembled.
“You need to tell him.””
“Tell me what?””
Vanessa backed away.
“Marcus, I didn't know.””
“Didn't know what?””
Helen looked at me.
Then at her daughter.
“Vanessa was the one who gave me the name.””
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
“What name?””
“The name of the man who needed to die.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying.
“No.””
Helen continued.
“She told me your father wanted you dead.””
My throat tightened.
“What?””
“She said you had discovered everything.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“You told your mother to kill my father?””
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“No. That's not what happened.””
“Then what happened?””
She couldn't answer.
I stepped toward her.
“What did you tell Helen three years ago?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
And then, finally, she said:
“I told her your father was going to expose her.””
I stared.
“That isn't the same thing.””
“I know.””
“Then why did she kill him?””
Vanessa looked at me through tears.
“Because I lied.””
Silence.
“Why?””
She looked toward the restaurant door.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Because I thought your father was the one who had killed Selena.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“But I was wrong.””
A car horn sounded outside.
Then another.
Derrick looked at his phone.
His expression changed.
“Marcus.””
“What?””
He showed me the screen.
A new message had arrived.
*PAGE THREE IS WITH ME.*
Below it was an address.
And one final line:
*Come alone, Marcus. If you bring Vanessa, she dies.*
I looked at my wife.
She was already crying.
Then another message appeared.
This one contained a photograph.
It showed Selena standing beside a grave.
The name carved into the stone was impossible to miss.
*SIMONE CARTER.*
I slowly looked at the woman standing beside me.
She had tears in her eyes.
And for the first time, she said the words I had been dreading all night.
“Marcus…”
May you like
She swallowed.
“I'm not Simone.””