Chapter 14 - The Second Note
The second note was not in Rebecca’s handwriting.
Andrew agreed.
The letters were blocky and uneven.
Someone wanted us to find it.
The question was who.
The chapel security cameras gave us the answer.
Twenty-three minutes before the ceremony, a catering employee entered the bridal preparation room.
He carried a box of champagne.
He remained inside for forty seconds.
Then he walked past Emily’s flower basket.
Police identified him as Eric Sloan.
Except Eric Sloan had never worked for the catering company.
The real Eric Sloan was home with pneumonia.
The man on camera had used his identity.
Facial recognition eventually connected him to Marcus Doyle’s younger brother.
Nathan Doyle.
Police found Nathan that evening.
He surrendered without resistance.
His explanation shocked everyone.
Marcus had called him from prison after learning investigators were reopening Laura’s case.
Marcus believed Victor would kill him before he could testify.
Years earlier, Marcus had told Nathan what happened on the highway.
He also revealed something he had never admitted to investigators.
Marcus saw the driver of the Range Rover.
A woman.
Not Victor.
“Who?”
I asked.
The detective stared at me.
“Rebecca Whitmore.”
I felt physically sick.
Rebecca had claimed Victor told her after the crash that the problem had been solved.
The recording made it sound as though she knew nothing.
Now Marcus was saying Rebecca had been behind the wheel.
“Why would Marcus hide that?”
“He was afraid.”
“Of Rebecca?”
“Of Victor.”
Nathan had placed the note in Emily’s basket because he knew I would ignore anything mailed anonymously.
“He used my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“Why not come to the police?”
“He didn’t trust them.”
I understood fear.
But I hated that every adult involved had pushed fear onto Emily.
Rebecca was arrested the next morning.
This time, she was not released.
I watched from across the police station hallway as detectives brought her through.
She saw me.
“Michael.”
I said nothing.
“I didn’t hit Laura’s car.”
“Marcus saw you.”
“He saw my face.”
“Yes.”
“But he didn’t see what happened.”
I stopped.
Rebecca turned toward the detectives.
“Please.”
One officer allowed her thirty seconds.
Rebecca looked directly at me.
“Victor was in the passenger seat.”
My jaw tightened.
“He made me follow her.”
“You were driving.”
“Yes.”
“You chased my wife.”
“Yes.”
My throat burned.
“Did you hit her?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Rebecca’s eyes filled.
“Victor grabbed the wheel.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“He reached across me.”
She was crying now.
“He jerked the steering wheel toward Laura’s car.”
“You could have stopped.”
“It happened in seconds.”
“You could have told the police.”
“I know.”
“You could have told me when you met me.”
“I know.”
“You could have stayed away from my daughter.”
Rebecca lowered her head.
“I know.”
The detective touched her arm.
Time was over.
Before they took her away, she turned back.
“Michael.”
I didn’t want to hear another word.
But she said it anyway.
“I didn’t meet you because Victor told me to.”
I stared at her.
“Then why?”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“Because Laura asked me to find you if she died.”
