Chapter 7 - THE DAUGHTER MARGARET BURIED
Rachel sat at our kitchen table for nearly an hour before she spoke.
She told us she had spent most of her life believing she was abandoned.
Then, at twenty-nine, she discovered the truth.
Her adoption records had been sealed.
But one document had been overlooked.
A letter.
From Margaret.
The letter said:
Give the child away.
Never let her know who she is.
I stared at Rachel.
“How did you find us?”
“My adoptive father died last year.”
She placed a folder on the table.
“After his funeral, I found these.”
Inside were bank statements.
Payments from Margaret.
For years.
Small amounts.
Monthly.
At first, I didn't understand them.
Then I found the account connected to the adoption agency.
Margaret had paid to keep Rachel hidden.
But why had Rachel returned now?
“Because I found the trust.”
She showed us another document.
Rachel was listed as a beneficiary.
So was Lily.
And Ethan.
Margaret had been terrified of that document.
Because if Rachel claimed her share, Margaret's control would collapse.
I suddenly understood the bigger picture.
Margaret didn't want our house.
She wanted the entire trust.
The house was only one piece.
Then Rachel looked at Ethan.
“She tried to contact me.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“What happened?”
“She offered me money.”
“How much?”
“$500,000.”
“To disappear?”
Rachel nodded.
“I refused.”
“And then?”
“Two weeks later, someone followed me.”
Ethan stood.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
I looked at Detective Collins.
He had been listening from the doorway.
“Do you have photographs?”
Rachel handed him her phone.
Collins studied them.
Then his face changed.
“That man.”
“What?”
“He's Daniel Price.”
The same man from our security footage.
Rachel looked frightened.
“He followed me too.”
Collins immediately called his department.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE MONEY.
I showed it to Collins.
He traced the number.
“It's a burner.”
Then another message appeared.
ASK RACHEL WHAT SHE TOOK FROM THE SAFE.
Rachel's face went white.
“I didn't take anything.”
“What safe?” Ethan asked.
Rachel shook her head.
“I found one.”
“Where?”
“At Margaret's house.”
“What was inside?”
She hesitated.
“A recording.”
My heart pounded.
“What recording?”
Rachel reached into her bag.
She removed a tiny digital recorder.
“I was going to give this to the police.”
She pressed play.
Margaret's voice filled the room.
“If Ethan refuses, we use Claire.”
Another voice answered.
“What about the child?”
Margaret replied:
“Lily is the easiest part.”
I felt sick.
Rachel stopped the recording.
“What did she mean?”
I looked at Ethan.
He was shaking.
Then the recording continued automatically.
Margaret's voice said:
“Once Claire is gone, Ethan will come back to us.”
I froze.
“Gone?”
The voice answered:
“Do you mean divorced?”
Margaret laughed.
“No.”
Silence.
Then she said:
“I mean permanently.”
The room became ice-cold.
Rachel stared at us.
“She wanted you dead.”
I couldn't speak.
Detective Collins immediately stood.
“Everyone stays inside.”
Then he received a call.
His face changed.
“Daniel Price has been found.”
“Where?”
“At Margaret's property.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then what's wrong?”
Collins looked at Rachel.
May you like
“He's been shot.”
And beside him was the missing pink box from my office.
