Chapter 7: The Secret Between Sisters
I couldn’t move.
The screen showed only those words.
Ask Emily.
About the night our parents died.
Everyone looked at me.
And for the first time in my life, I felt like a stranger in my own family’s story.
“My parents?””
My voice barely came out.
Daniel closed the laptop.
“Emily.””
“No.””
I stepped back.
“No, there has to be a mistake.””
Rebecca looked at me sadly.
“She meant you.””
I turned toward her.
“What are you talking about?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone was afraid of the answer.
Finally, Officer Miller spoke.
“Emily, what happened the night your parents died?””
I looked at her.
“They died in a car accident.””
“That’s what the report says.””
The way she said it made my stomach drop.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel opened another folder.
One I had never seen before.
“We need to talk about something Lily discovered.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
He hesitated.
“Your parents’ accident may not have been an accident.””
The world seemed to tilt.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“No, I was a child. I remember.””
“You remember the aftermath,” Daniel said gently.
“Not everything.””
I hated that he was right.
I had been seven years old.
Old enough to remember the sound of my mother’s voice.
Old enough to remember the hospital lights.
Old enough to remember Lily holding my hand.
But too young to understand why everyone looked afraid.
I sat down.
“Tell me.””
Daniel placed the file in front of me.
“Your grandfather hired a private investigator six months before he died.””
“Why?””
“Because he believed your parents’ accident was connected to financial problems.””
I stared at the documents.
Financial problems.
Again.
Money.
Everything kept coming back to money.
“What does this have to do with Lily?””
Daniel answered.
“She found the file.””
My breath stopped.
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
The same time everything changed.
The same time Lily stopped trusting Jason.
The same time she started preparing.
I opened the file.
Inside were old reports.
Old photographs.
And one name.
Margaret Reed.
Jason’s mother.
I looked up.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your mother and Margaret knew each other.””
“How?””
“They were involved in the same business group.””
I flipped through the pages.
There were transactions.
Payments.
Transfers.
My hands shook.
“My parents discovered something.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“And Margaret was involved.””
“Yes.””
I looked at the screen where Lily’s frozen face remained.
My sister had discovered the truth.
And it had gotten her killed.
The next morning, I went to Margaret Reed’s house.
Alone.
I didn’t tell Daniel.
I didn’t tell Officer Miller.
I needed answers.
Margaret opened the door before I knocked.
Almost like she expected me.
“Emily.””
Her voice was calm.
“Come in.””
I stepped inside.
Her house smelled exactly like Lily’s descriptions.
Lavender candles.
Fresh flowers.
Everything perfect.
Too perfect.
“You know why I’m here.””
Margaret poured tea.
“No.””
“Yes.””
She smiled faintly.
“You always were more like Lily than you realized.””
That sentence made me freeze.
“What does that mean?””
She handed me a cup.
“Your sister was curious.””
“She was murdered.””
Margaret didn’t react.
That scared me.
“You should be careful with words like that.””
“Why?””
“Because words create consequences.””
I stared at her.
“You threatened Lily.””
“No.””
“You knew Jason wanted her money.””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“You admit it?””
Margaret sat down.
“I admit my son was desperate.””
“Desperate enough to kill?””
Her eyes hardened.
“My son is weak.””
A pause.
“But he is not a murderer.””
“Then who is?””
Margaret looked at me.
And said:
“Your sister found the wrong person’s secret.””
I leaned forward.
“What secret?””
Margaret didn’t answer.
Instead, she asked:
“Did Lily ever tell you why your parents really died?””
My chest tightened.
“No.””
“Because she was protecting you.””
“From what?””
Margaret looked toward the window.
“From the truth about your father.””
The room went silent.
I stood.
“My father?””
May you like
Margaret whispered:
“Your father wasn’t the victim you remember.””
