Chapter 8: The Recording Danielle Hid
I didn't tell the children what Patricia had said.
They had already heard enough adult conversations to make them question every person in the house.
Instead, I called Vanessa and asked her to come over.
When she arrived, I showed her the tablet.
She watched the video of Tasha punishing Imani.
Her face changed with every passing second.
When it ended, she put the tablet down.
"I knew something was wrong," she whispered.
I looked at her.
"You knew?""
"Not this. But I knew Imani was frightened of her.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Vanessa looked ashamed.
"Because I thought I was overreacting. Tasha always behaved differently when you were around. She made everything look normal.""
I rubbed my face.
"Apparently, she was very good at that.""
Vanessa opened the tablet's file manager.
"Let's see what else is here.""
We searched through photographs and videos.
There were birthday pictures, school performances, short recordings of Caleb playing soccer, and several clips of Imani drawing.
Then Vanessa stopped.
"Marcus.""
"What?""
She turned the screen toward me.
There was a folder named:
*DANIELLE — PRIVATE.*
My heart began pounding.
I opened it.
Inside were two audio files and a scanned document.
The first audio file was dated six years earlier.
The second was dated three years earlier.
The day before my wedding to Tasha.
I stared at the screen.
"Why would Danielle's recordings be on this tablet?""
Vanessa shrugged.
"Maybe Tasha copied them.""
I pressed the first file.
A burst of static came through.
Then Danielle's voice.
I hadn't heard it in years.
"Hello, Marcus. If you're listening to this, then I wasn't able to tell you everything myself.""
My chest tightened.
I gripped the edge of the table.
Danielle continued.
"I don't know whether Tasha will ever show you this. I hope she does. I hope she's found peace.""
A pause.
"There's something about her that you need to understand.""
I closed my eyes.
"I know she loves you. I know she wants a family. But I need you to understand that her love can become possessive when she feels threatened.""
Vanessa looked at me.
The recording continued.
"After Daniel died, Tasha became convinced that I had taken everything from her. She blamed me for losing him. She blamed me for having a daughter. And she blamed me for being happy.""
There was a faint sound in the background.
Then Danielle spoke again.
"I tried to help her. I really did. But one day, she told me something that frightened me.""
I leaned closer.
"She said that if she couldn't have a child of her own, she would raise mine.""
The recording ended.
Neither of us spoke.
I played it again.
Then I opened the second file.
Danielle's voice returned.
This time, she sounded tired.
"Marcus, if you are hearing this, then I need you to be careful about what Tasha tells you.""
A pause.
"She may tell you that I gave her permission to raise Imani. She may tell you that I wanted her to become a mother. She may even show you papers with my signature.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Do not believe everything you see.""
The audio crackled.
"I signed one document allowing her to help with Imani temporarily. But I later withdrew that permission. I made my wishes clear in writing, and I sent copies to my attorney.""
I looked at Vanessa.
The recording continued.
"Tasha was angry. She said I was taking away her only chance to have a family.""
Danielle's voice broke.
"I told her Imani was not something anyone could own.""
There was a long silence.
Then she said:
"Marcus, I need you to know that Tasha once asked me whether I would let her adopt Imani if I died.""
I stopped breathing.
Danielle continued.
"I said no.""
A door slammed somewhere in the background.
Then another voice appeared.
Tasha.
"You promised me!""
Danielle's voice sounded distant.
"I promised you I'd help you. I never promised you my daughter.""
"You don't understand what you've done to me!""
"I understand that you're hurting. But Imani isn't the answer.""
"She could have been mine!""
"She's not yours, Tasha.""
The recording ended abruptly.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I sat completely still.
For the first time, I understood how long this had been going on.
Tasha hadn't suddenly become jealous after marrying me.
She had carried that resentment for years.
And when Danielle died, she'd seen an opportunity to enter the family she'd always wanted.
My phone rang.
Patricia.
I answered.
"Did you find something?""
"I found two recordings.""
"Can you send them to me?""
"I'll forward them.""
"There's more. Tasha submitted a document claiming Danielle gave her permanent authority over Imani.""
"I know. I have a copy.""
"Can she use it?""
"Not without verification. The alteration is significant. I'm arranging for a document examiner to review the original.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"How long?""
"A few days.""
I exhaled.
"Patricia, I need to ask you something. Could Tasha legally take Imani?""
"Not based on the document you've described. You're Imani's surviving biological parent and legal guardian. Unless a court determines otherwise, Tasha has no automatic right to custody.""
I felt a little relief.
"Thank you.""
"Marcus?""
"Yes?""
"There's another reason I called.""
"What?""
"I found a note in Danielle's file. It mentions a woman named Helen.""
I frowned.
"Who is Helen?""
"Danielle's former neighbor. She was present during an incident involving Tasha and Imani.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"What incident?""
Patricia hesitated.
"Danielle wrote that Helen witnessed Tasha trying to remove Imani from the house while Danielle was receiving medical treatment.""
I stood.
"Why haven't I heard about this before?""
"Because Helen moved out of state shortly afterward. Danielle never managed to contact her again.""
"Do you have her number?""
"I have an old address. I'll send it to you.""
After the call ended, Vanessa sat quietly.
"Marcus, there's something I need to tell you.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"Yesterday, when Tasha left, she called me.""
"What did she want?""
"She asked whether I still had the spare key to Dad's storage unit.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"She said she needed to retrieve something Danielle had left behind.""
"What thing?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"She wouldn't tell me.""
I stood.
"Did you give her the key?""
"No.""
I stared at her.
"Good.""
Vanessa reached for my hand.
"Marcus, I think she's going to try something.""
I looked toward the stairs.
"She already has.""
That afternoon, I called Helen's old number.
It was disconnected.
I searched the address Patricia had sent me.
A small town in Ohio.
I called the local directory service and eventually found a number.
A woman answered.
"Hello?""
"Is this Helen?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Marcus Reed. I was married to Danielle Reed.""
Silence.
Then a quiet voice.
"Oh my goodness.""
"You knew my wife?""
"Of course I did. I lived next door to her for twelve years.""
"I need to ask you about something that happened before Danielle died.""
Helen took a breath.
"Is this about Tasha?""
My stomach tightened.
"Yes.""
"I wondered when someone would finally ask.""
I sat down.
"What did you see?""
Helen's voice became quieter.
"Your wife was in the hospital. Tasha was staying at the house with the children.""
"Yes.""
"One afternoon, I heard shouting. I went outside because I thought someone was hurt.""
"What happened?""
"I saw Tasha carrying Imani toward a car.""
I closed my eyes.
"Was Imani crying?""
"She was screaming for her mother.""
I felt sick.
Helen continued.
"Danielle's father-in-law arrived just as Tasha was opening the car door.""
"My father?""
"Yes. He took the baby from her.""
I stared at the wall.
"What happened afterward?""
"Your father told Tasha to go inside. He said he would handle it.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Did you tell Danielle?""
"I did. She was devastated.""
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
Helen was silent.
Then she said:
"Because your father asked me not to.""
I felt anger rising again.
"Did he threaten you?""
"No. He said you were already struggling and that he didn't want to destroy your marriage.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Which marriage?""
Helen didn't answer.
Then she said something unexpected.
"There's one more thing, Marcus.""
"What?""
"Before Tasha tried to take Imani, she told me something.""
I gripped the phone.
"What?""
"She said Danielle had promised her the child.""
"That's not true.""
"I know. That's why I was frightened.""
I stood.
"What else did she say?""
Helen hesitated.
"She said she already had the papers to prove it.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did she show you?""
"No. But I saw her holding an envelope.""
"Do you remember what was written on it?""
Helen's voice trembled.
"Yes.""
"What?""
"Imani's full name.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you see where she put it?""
Helen took a breath.
"Your father took the envelope from her.""
I stared at the kitchen.
My father had the missing document.
Or at least, he had once possessed it.
I thanked Helen and ended the call.
Then I went straight to my father's house.
He opened the door.
When he saw my expression, he stepped backward.
"Marcus.""
"Where is the envelope?""
His face changed.
"What envelope?""
"The one Tasha had when she tried to take Imani.""
He looked down.
I pushed past him.
"Don't lie to me again.""
He followed me into the living room.
"Your father doesn't remember everything from that day," my mother called from the kitchen.
I turned.
"Then help him remember.""
My father sat down.
Finally, he spoke.
"I took the envelope from Tasha.""
"Where is it?""
"I burned it.""
I stared at him.
"You burned the evidence?""
"It was only a copy.""
"Of what?""
He looked at me.
"An adoption agreement.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who signed it?""
He hesitated.
"Danielle.""
"Was it real?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
"How do you know?""
"Because Danielle showed me the original document afterward. The signature on Tasha's copy was different.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did you burn it?""
"Because I thought it would stop her.""
I laughed.
"Instead, you helped her hide what she was doing.""
He looked devastated.
"I thought I was protecting you.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you ever see the original adoption agreement?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
He looked toward the hallway.
Then he said:
"Danielle gave it to me. I kept it in the safe.""
I felt a flash of hope.
"Then let's get it.""
My father stood and walked toward his study.
He entered a code into the small safe behind his desk.
The door opened.
Inside were several documents, a watch, and an old photograph.
But there was no adoption agreement.
My father stared at the empty space.
"That's impossible.""
I looked at him.
"What's missing?""
He swallowed.
"The envelope.""
"Who had access to this safe?""
He turned toward me.
Only one person.
His wife.
My mother stood in the doorway.
"Robert?""
He looked at her.
"Did you take something from the safe?""
Her face went pale.
Then she whispered:
"Yes.""
I stared at her.
"What did you take?""
My mother began crying.
"The document Danielle left behind.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Why?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because Tasha told me it was proof that Danielle had wanted her to raise Imani.""
"Where is it?""
May you like
My mother lowered her eyes.
"I gave it back to Tasha.""
