Chapter 5 - The Marriage That Was Never an Accident
The following morning, Daniel's attorney filed an emergency request to prevent Marissa from exercising any disputed authority over Lily while the court reviewed the allegations.
The filing included the hospital records, Naomi's account, Rosa's statement, and the documents Marissa had presented at the school.
Daniel also revoked every financial authorization he could lawfully revoke and instructed his banks to require direct verification from him and counsel for unusual transactions.
It should have made him feel better.
It didn't.
Because Marissa was still free.
And because somebody had spent years building a plan around his family.
At eleven, Daniel received a call from Detective Marcus Reed.
"We need to talk about Rebecca."
Daniel stood at his office window.
"Did you find something?"
"We're reviewing what you brought us. I also spoke to the detective who handled her accident."
"And?"
"The case was ruled a traffic collision involving a delivery truck that crossed into her lane."
"I know."
"The driver said he fell asleep."
"I know that too."
"There was something in the original file that never made it into the summary you received."
Daniel's fingers tightened around the phone.
"What?"
"A witness reported seeing a dark sedan following Rebecca shortly before the collision."
Daniel said nothing.
"The witness couldn't identify the vehicle. The investigator documented the statement, but there wasn't enough evidence to connect it to the crash."
"Are you saying somebody killed my wife?"
"I'm saying we need to examine all available evidence before drawing conclusions."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Please tell me you're doing that."
"We are."
Across town, Marissa Bennett sat in a private conference room with Adrian Vale.
The emerald coat lay across the back of her chair.
She wore a cream-colored blouse and expensive pearl earrings.
Her expression was composed.
But the coffee in front of her had gone cold.
"Daniel's accounts are frozen for the closing," Adrian said.
"Then unfreeze them."
"It's not that simple."
"You told me he'd never question the paperwork."
"He wasn't supposed to."
Marissa stared at him.
"Find out who sent the photographs."
"We're working on it."
"Work faster."
Adrian leaned back.
"You're making mistakes."
Marissa laughed.
"Me?"
"You went to the school yourself."
"Because Helen sent an idiot who couldn't answer a single question about Lily's alleged condition."
"That doesn't excuse your behavior."
Marissa's smile vanished.
"Don't lecture me, Adrian."
He opened a folder.
"The court received Daniel's emergency filing this morning."
"And?"
"His attorney identified the defects in the documents."
"Fix them."
"We can't simply replace attachments now without creating more problems."
Marissa leaned forward.
"You promised that by Friday, Daniel would have nothing."
Adrian's voice hardened.
"And you promised the child would be cooperative."
For the first time, Marissa looked genuinely furious.
"She's seven."
"Exactly. Yet somehow she's talking to teachers, doctors, and the police."
Marissa stared at him.
Then she whispered, "That little girl has ruined everything."
Adrian closed the folder.
"Keep your distance from her."
"She's my stepdaughter."
"She's the subject of an active investigation. You need to act accordingly."
Marissa stood.
"You'd better remember who paid for this."
Adrian didn't move.
"Actually, Marissa, you might want to remember who kept your earlier cases from becoming much worse."
She turned slowly.
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm reminding you that we're in the same problem."
At Rachel's house, Lily sat at the breakfast table staring at a plate of scrambled eggs.
Rachel noticed that she'd been looking at it for almost five minutes.
"Honey, you can eat."
Lily picked up her fork.
Then put it down.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Rachel crouched beside her.
"No."
"Then why did you make so much?"
"Because I wasn't sure how hungry you were."
Lily studied the eggs.
"Can I save some?"
"Of course."
"For later?"
"Absolutely."
Lily's voice dropped.
"Marissa doesn't let me keep food."
Rachel felt tears threaten.
But she kept her voice steady.
"Here, food belongs to everybody. If you're hungry, you can ask. If you're full, you can stop."
Lily looked confused.
"What if I waste it?"
"We'll figure it out."
"What if I spill?"
"We'll clean it up."
"What if I don't like it?"
"Then we'll find something else."
Lily stared at her aunt.
Finally, she asked, "Do all houses work like that?"
Rachel reached for her hand.
"All safe houses should."
Lily nodded very seriously.
Then she took a bite.
That afternoon, Daniel visited Lily.
She was sitting on Rachel's living room rug, building a house with plastic blocks.
"Hey, peanut."
She looked up.
"Daddy!"
She ran into his arms.
Daniel held her tightly.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
He sat beside her.
"Can we talk about something?"
She nodded.
"Coach Naomi?"
"No, sweetheart. Mommy Rebecca."
Lily became quiet.
"Mommy in Heaven?"
"Yes."
Daniel took out the photograph from Rebecca's folder.
"Your mommy was helping families before she died."
Lily touched the picture.
"She helped little kids?"
"She tried."
"Like Coach Naomi?"
Daniel smiled sadly.
"Yes. A lot like Coach Naomi."
Lily studied the faces.
Then she pointed at a woman in the background.
"That's Marissa."
Daniel nodded.
"I know."
Lily frowned.
"She told me something about Mommy Rebecca."
Daniel's chest tightened.
"What did she say?"
"She said Mommy Rebecca wasn't as nice as everyone thinks."
Daniel froze.
"When?"
"One night when you were working."
"What else?"
Lily looked uncomfortable.
"She said Mommy Rebecca kept secrets from you."
Daniel swallowed.
"Did she say which secrets?"
Lily nodded.
"She said Mommy Rebecca tried to take something that belonged to people more important than us."
Daniel stared at his daughter.
"Did Marissa tell you what it was?"
"No."
Lily played with the edge of her sleeve.
"But she said Mommy Rebecca got what she deserved."
Daniel couldn't speak.
Lily looked worried.
"Daddy?"
He forced himself to breathe.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Does that mean Mommy was bad?"
Daniel pulled her into his arms.
"No."
He kissed her forehead.
"No, Lily. Your mommy was trying to help people."
She leaned against him.
"Then why did Marissa say that?"
Daniel looked toward the window.
"Because sometimes people say terrible things when they're hiding something."
Lily thought about that.
Then she asked a question he would remember for the rest of his life.
"Daddy, if grown-ups lie, how are little kids supposed to know who is safe?"
He held her closer.
"You shouldn't have to figure that out by yourself."
That evening, Detective Reed called again.
They had located the delivery driver from Rebecca's accident.
His name was Victor Haines.
He had been living in a supervised residential facility since suffering a stroke.
But he was still able to communicate.
And when detectives asked whether he remembered Rebecca Bennett, Victor began crying.
May you like
Then he said six words that changed the investigation.
"They told me she was alone."
