Chapter 6: The Place Where Sarah Disappeared
The rain started before I reached the highway.
Just like that night.
Three years ago, I had stood in this exact place with police officers surrounding me.
I remembered the flashing lights.
The broken glass.
The feeling that my entire world had ended.
Now I was standing there again.
But this time, I wasn’t grieving.
I was searching.
Daniel stood beside his car near the empty roadside.
Waiting.
I got out.
He looked older.
Not physically.
Something else.
Like he had been carrying a secret too heavy for too long.
“You came.””
I stared at him.
“You knew I would.””
He looked away.
“I knew you’d need answers.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You knew I’d eventually find out.””
Daniel didn’t deny it.
That scared me more.
“Tell me the truth.””
He took a deep breath.
“About what?””
I almost laughed.
“Seriously?””
He looked at me.
“You think I killed Sarah.””
The fact that he said it so easily made my stomach turn.
“You knew.””
“I knew someone would tell you eventually.””
“Who?””
“Vanessa?””
I said nothing.
Daniel nodded.
“I should have known she’d break.””
My fists clenched.
“Don’t talk about her like she’s the villain here.””
He looked surprised.
“You’re defending Vanessa?””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“I’m saying you’re not innocent.””
Daniel looked toward the highway.
“Sarah found out.””
“Found out what?””
He was silent.
“Daniel.””
His jaw tightened.
“She found out about the money.””
“What money?””
He looked at me.
“The company.””
I froze.
Three years ago, Daniel and I had started a business together.
He handled finances.
I handled operations.
After Sarah died, I buried myself in work.
I never looked too closely.
Because I trusted him.
“What did you do?””
Daniel looked down.
“I borrowed money.””
“How much?””
“Michael…”
“How much?””
His silence answered.
“Hundreds of thousands?””
He didn’t speak.
I felt sick.
Sarah knew.
She knew he was stealing.
“She was going to tell me.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t she?””
His eyes changed.
Regret.
Real regret.
“Because she never got the chance.””
The words hung between us.
I stared at him.
“What happened that night?””
Daniel looked away.
“I went to talk to her.””
“About the money?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“We argued.””
“Then?””
He rubbed his face.
“She drove away.””
I waited.
“Daniel.””
He closed his eyes.
“I followed her.””
My heart stopped.
“You followed my wife?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was desperate.””
The rain became heavier.
“I wanted the evidence she had.””
My voice was shaking.
“You chased her?””
“No.””
His answer came quickly.
“I didn’t hit her car.””
“Then what happened?””
He looked at me.
“She lost control.””
I stared.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Because it’s the truth.””
“Then why hide it?””
His face broke.
“Because I panicked.””
I couldn’t move.
“You watched her die?””
“No.””
“Daniel.””
“I called emergency services.””
“After how long?””
He said nothing.
That was enough.
I stepped back.
“You left her there.””
“I was scared.””
“You left her there.””
He looked destroyed.
“I thought she was dead.””
The silence was unbearable.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Did Sarah say anything?””
Daniel looked at me.
A tear rolled down his face.
“Yes.””
“What?””
“She said Lily’s name.””
My chest tightened.
“What else?””
Daniel looked away.
“She said…”
He stopped.
“What?””
“She said, ‘Don’t let Michael trust him.’”
My blood went cold.
“Him?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
“Who?””
He looked directly at me.
And whispered:
“Michael…”
I waited.
“She wasn’t talking about me.””
My heart started racing.
“Then who was she talking about?””
Daniel looked behind me.
At the road.
At the darkness.
May you like
And said:
“The person who arranged everything.””
