Chapter 16 - Cole's Confession.
Daniel stared at his brother across Rebecca's small kitchen.
"You helped her?"
Cole nodded.
"For almost a year."
"Why did you never tell me?"
"Because she asked me not to."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Apparently everyone had a secret agreement with my wife except me."
Cole accepted the anger.
"She tried telling you."
Daniel stopped.
"What?"
"Three times."
Cole looked down.
"Each time, Mom got to you first."
Daniel remembered the conversations.
Rebecca saying she wanted distance from Carter Holdings.
Evelyn saying Rebecca was overwhelmed.
Rebecca questioning Hale.
Evelyn saying postpartum anxiety could make people suspicious.
Daniel had chosen the explanation that asked least from him.
His face burned.
Cole continued.
"I gave Rebecca access to Dad's old payment accounts."
"Did you know Hale was drugging her?"
"No."
"When I realized, I told her to go to the police."
"Why did she not?"
"She wanted the lab result first."
Daniel sat heavily.
Cole's voice broke.
"I was supposed to meet her the night of the crash."
Daniel looked up.
"Where?"
"At this house."
Elise became still.
Cole continued.
"She was bringing the evidence."
"Then why was Elise driving?"
"Rebecca called her because she felt dizzy."
Daniel looked at Elise.
She nodded.
"That part is true."
Cole covered his face.
"I waited here until sunrise."
Daniel's anger shifted.
"Why did you stay quiet afterward?"
"Mom showed me the crash report."
Cole looked at Elise.
"She told me Elise had been drinking."
Elise stared.
"I do not drink."
"I know that now."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Hale altered the report?"
Cole nodded.
"He had access to the hospital toxicology system through a consultant."
Daniel felt sick.
The story had not survived because one person lied.
It survived because everyone accepted the lie most convenient to them.
That evening, Samuel called with news.
Hale had turned over his original records.
The sedative detected in Elise's blood matched the tablets supplied for Rebecca.
Someone had put it into a thermos Rebecca and Elise shared during the drive.
There was no proof who did it.
But there was proof Evelyn had instructed Hale to provide the drug.
Daniel looked out toward the dark lake.
"Can they charge her?"
Samuel answered carefully.
"That is for investigators and prosecutors to decide."
Daniel hated the uncertainty.
He wanted a clean ending.
Rebecca had never gotten one.
Behind him, the twins laughed.
Elise was on the floor making two wooden spoons argue.
Daniel turned.
The sight stopped him.
He realized justice and healing were not the same task.
One belonged to investigators.
The other belonged to him.
He walked toward the girls.
Maisie held out a spoon.
Daniel took it.
Elise raised an eyebrow.
"Do you know the rules?"
"No."
"There are no rules."
Daniel looked at the spoon.
"That seems irresponsible."
Rosie giggled.
Elise smiled.
Then Daniel's phone buzzed.
A message from Evelyn.
ONE LAST MEETING.
COME TOMORROW.
I WILL GIVE YOU THE ORIGINAL LETTER REBECCA WROTE TO ME.
Daniel read it twice.
Elise watched his face.
"What is it?"
Daniel looked toward the lake.
"My mother finally wants to tell me what Rebecca said to her."
Elise's expression darkened.
"Or she wants to choose the last thing you remember."
May you like
Daniel slipped the phone into his pocket.
"Then this time, I choose how I listen."
