Chapter 4: The Report They Buried

James slipped his phone into his jacket pocket, but not before I saw the message again in my mind.

THE POLICE FOUND THE ORIGINAL ACCIDENT REPORT.

For three years, I had believed my wife died because a wet road and one terrible mistake had collided at the worst possible moment. Now, standing in a dressing room with my injured daughter in my arms, I wondered whether every comforting explanation I had received was part of a lie.

“Michael,” James said, forcing a calmness into his voice, “we need to talk privately.””

I tightened my arm around Lily.

“No. We’re done talking privately.””

Two security guards stood near the doorway. One was an older man with gray hair named Robert. The other, a younger guard, kept glancing between James and Vanessa.

Robert cleared his throat.

“Sir, the police are on their way. We can keep everyone separated until they arrive.””

“Good,” I said.

“Nobody leaves.””

Vanessa immediately protested.

“You can’t hold me here! I’m the bride!””

Robert looked at her white wedding dress, then at Lily’s swollen cheek.

“Ma’am, nobody is holding you. You’re free to wait here or in another room.””

“Fine. I’ll wait downstairs with the guests.””

“No,” I said.

“You’ll wait where I can see you.””

She glared at me.

“You’ve become a stranger in the space of ten minutes.””

“No, Vanessa. I finally met you.””

James stepped between us.

“Enough. You’re embarrassing yourself.””

I stared at him.

“My daughter has a handprint on her face, your fiancée is carrying a secret phone, and you’ve been discussing access to her inheritance. Tell me which part I’m supposed to find embarrassing.””

James’s cheeks reddened.

“You have no idea what those messages mean.””

“Then explain them.””

He rubbed his forehead.

“Vanessa came to me because she was worried about your financial situation. She wanted to understand what would happen if something happened to you.””

“What would happen to Lily?””

“Exactly. Her future.””

“Then why were you talking about taking my house?””

His eyes hardened.

“Because your house is part of the family assets, Michael. You inherited it from Dad. Emily’s death complicated things. There are arrangements you don’t understand.””

I felt Lily stiffen against me.

I lowered my voice.

“Don’t use my wife’s death to justify stealing from my daughter.””

James’s expression changed at the mention of Emily.

“Your wife made decisions that affected everyone. She wasn’t as innocent as you remember.””

I took a step toward him.

“Be very careful.””

Robert moved slightly closer, ready to intervene.

James noticed and raised both hands.

“I’m not threatening you. I’m trying to stop you from destroying the only family you have left.””

I almost laughed.

“My daughter is my family.””

For the first time, James had no immediate answer.

A knock sounded at the door.

Daniel entered, looking worried.

“Michael, the guests are asking what’s happening. The minister wants to know whether to delay the ceremony.””

I looked at him.

“Tell them there won’t be a ceremony.””

His eyebrows rose.

“Are you sure?””

I glanced at Lily, who had buried her face against my shoulder again.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.””

Daniel nodded slowly.

“I’ll handle it.””

As he turned to leave, James caught his arm.

“Tell them Michael is having a breakdown. Don’t announce anything until we’ve spoken to the family.””

Daniel pulled free.

“His daughter has been hurt, James. I’m not lying to two hundred people to protect your wedding plans.””

He left.

James watched him go, his jaw clenched.

Then he turned back to me.

“Do you remember the night Emily died?””

The question struck me so unexpectedly that I couldn’t answer at first.

Of course I remembered.

I remembered the call from the hospital. The sound of a nurse asking me to confirm my wife’s identity. The way I had dropped my car keys three times because my hands wouldn’t work.

James had arrived at the hospital before I did.

He had held me when the doctor delivered the news.

“What about that night?”” I asked.

“Emily called me before she left the house.””

My blood ran cold.

“You told me she was driving home from her mother’s.””

“She was.””

“Why did she call you?””

James looked toward Vanessa.

She was watching him with an expression I couldn’t read.

“She wanted to meet me,” he said.

“She was angry about money. She thought I’d taken something that belonged to her.””

“What did you take?””

“Nothing that concerns you.””

I stepped forward so quickly that Robert put a hand against my chest.

“Don’t you dare.””

James swallowed.

“She was upset. She’d been threatening to change the trust arrangements. I tried to calm her down.””

“And then?””

“She left.””

“And then she died.””

James’s face tightened.

“Yes.””

“Did you follow her?””