Chapter 8: The Recording Emily Left Behind
Nathan didn't remember leaving the hotel.
He only remembered Detective Morgan telling him that Lily needed additional protection.
He remembered Jada walking beside him.
And he remembered the words Andrew had spoken.
The person who made sure your wife never came home is standing much closer to you than you think.
His father.
Robert Sterling.
The man who had built the Sterling business empire from a small construction company.
The man whose portrait hung in every major office.
The man who had taught Nathan that family loyalty was more important than anything else.
And the man who had helped pay for Emily's funeral.
Nathan sat in the back of the police vehicle while Detective Morgan spoke with another officer.
Jada sat beside him.
“Are you okay?”” she asked.
He gave a short laugh.
“No.””
“That's understandable.””
He looked at her.
“Do you think it's possible?””
Jada didn't answer immediately.
“Do you have a reason to believe your father was involved?””
Nathan rubbed his face.
“My father was the one who told me the accident was nothing more than bad weather. He said the police had investigated everything.””
“Did you see the investigation report?””
“No.””
“Did you ask?””
Nathan shook his head.
“I trusted him.””
Jada looked through the window.
“Sometimes trusting someone is the easiest way to get hurt.””
Nathan looked at her.
She wasn't speaking only about his family.
She was remembering the slap.
The accusation.
The way he had treated her.
“I know,” he said quietly.
At the hospital, two uniformed officers were standing outside Lily's room.
Nathan rushed inside.
Lily was sitting up in bed, clutching her teddy bear.
“Daddy!””
He crossed the room and hugged her.
“I'm here.””
“Where were you?””
“Taking care of something.””
“Did Victoria come back?””
“No.””
Lily looked toward Jada.
“Is she coming?””
Jada approached the bed.
“No one is going to let her near you.””
Lily seemed satisfied.
Then she looked at Nathan.
“Daddy, can we go home?””
Nathan kissed her forehead.
“Soon, sweetheart.””
A nurse entered to check Lily's blood pressure.
Nathan stepped aside.
While she worked, Detective Morgan entered the room with a sealed evidence bag.
“Mr. Sterling, we found something else at the hotel.””
Nathan looked up.
“What?””
The detective placed a small digital recorder on the bedside table.
“Marcus discovered this inside a locked drawer in the bridal suite.””
Nathan frowned.
“What is it?””
“A voice recorder.””
“Whose?””
Detective Morgan pressed a button.
A familiar voice filled the room.
Emily.
Nathan's knees nearly gave way.
“Hello, Nathan. If you're hearing this, then something has happened, and I haven't been able to explain everything to you.””
Nathan covered his mouth.
Lily's eyes widened.
“Mommy?””
The recording continued.
“I know you're probably confused. I know you might be angry that I kept things from you. But I need you to listen carefully.””
There was a brief rustling sound.
Then Emily spoke again.
“Andrew has been taking money from Lily's trust. I have evidence. I also discovered that Richard Whitmore has been helping him.””
Nathan closed his eyes.
“I tried to speak with your father, but he told me to stop investigating. He said the family had already suffered enough.””
The recording paused.
Then Emily's voice became quieter.
“I don't believe him anymore.””
Nathan looked at Detective Morgan.
She gestured for him to continue listening.
Emily took a breath.
“There is something else. Victoria.””
Nathan's eyes opened.
Emily continued.
“She has been meeting Andrew. I saw them together. I have photographs. I don't know what they are planning, but I believe they want access to Lily's inheritance.””
Jada stared at Nathan.
The recording continued.
“Please don't marry someone simply because you're afraid of being alone. Don't let anyone convince you that Lily needs a replacement mother.””
Nathan's face crumpled.
He had heard Emily say something similar during their last conversation.
He remembered standing in their kitchen, complaining about work.
Emily had touched his cheek and said, "Promise me you'll always listen when Lily tells you something is wrong.""
He had promised.
And he had forgotten.
The recording ended with Emily's voice.
“If I cannot protect our daughter myself, I need you to do it for both of us.””
A click.
Silence.
Nathan sat beside Lily's bed.
Tears ran down his face.
Lily reached for his hand.
“Was that Mommy?””
Nathan nodded.
“Yes, baby.””
“Is she talking to us?””
He looked at his daughter.
“In a way.””
Lily touched the recorder.
“I miss her.””
Nathan pulled her close.
“So do I.””
Jada quietly stepped into the hallway.
She wanted to give them privacy.
But Detective Morgan followed her.
“Ms. Jada.””
Jada turned.
“Yes?””
“I need to ask you something about the necklace.””
Jada showed her the small locket.
The detective examined the compartment.
“Where did you find the paper?””
“Inside.””
Morgan carefully compared the reference number with the document Rebecca had supplied.
Her expression changed.
“This number corresponds to a private archive.””
“What does that mean?””
“Emily may have deposited evidence with an independent legal custodian.””
Jada frowned.
“Can you access it?””
“We're working on that.””
The detective looked toward the hospital room.
“Your involvement in this case is becoming important.””
Jada shook her head.
“I just saw a little girl in danger.””
“And you saved her.””
Morgan paused.
“There's something else. The person who attempted to enter Lily's hospital room was identified.””
Jada's expression tightened.
“Who?””
“A temporary hospital maintenance contractor named Peter Lawson.””
“Was he working for Andrew?””
“We're checking.””
The detective lowered her voice.
“But his phone contained a photograph of Lily taken through the hospital window.””
Jada felt sick.
“How close did he get?””
“Close enough.””
Jada looked through the glass at Lily.
The little girl was laughing softly as Nathan showed her the photograph of her mother.
“Can you keep her safe?”” Jada asked.
Detective Morgan nodded.
“We're arranging protective custody and additional security.””
Jada looked down at her hands.
“Then find whoever sent that man.””
Across town, Andrew Sterling sat in a private club overlooking the river.
He was wearing a navy suit and holding a glass of whiskey.
His phone lay on the table.
The call with Nathan had ended less than an hour earlier.
Andrew smiled as he read a new message.
The girl is still alive.
He typed back.
Then finish what Victoria couldn't.
A response arrived almost immediately.
The police are involved.
Andrew's smile disappeared.
He called the number.
“Listen carefully,” he said.
“You have one job. Retrieve the original document before the police find it.””
The person on the other end spoke.
“What if Sterling has it?””
Andrew looked toward the window.
“Then we take it from him.””
He ended the call.
A waiter approached.
“Another drink, sir?””
Andrew nodded.
Then his phone rang again.
This time, the caller was his father.
“Andrew.””
“Father.””
“Where are you?””
“Working.””
“Don't lie to me.””
Andrew's jaw tightened.
“What do you want?””
Robert Sterling's voice was cold.
“I've just received a call from Richard Whitmore. The police are asking questions about Emily.””
Andrew closed his eyes.
“They found Rebecca.””
There was a pause.
Then Robert said:
“You were supposed to handle that woman.””
“I did.””
“Clearly, you didn't.””
Andrew lowered his voice.
“Father, Nathan has Emily's recording.””
Silence.
Then Robert spoke.
“Get it.””
“And if he refuses?””
“Then remind him who paid for his life.””
Andrew stared at the table.
“I'm not sure he'll listen anymore.””
Robert's voice hardened.
“Then make sure he has something to lose.””
The call ended.
Andrew leaned back.
For the first time that evening, he looked genuinely worried.
Because he knew something Nathan didn't.
Emily hadn't left just one recording.
She had left three.
And the third contained the one piece of evidence that could destroy the entire Sterling family.
At the hospital, Lily had finally fallen asleep.
Nathan sat beside her.
Jada stood near the window, watching the security officers outside.
Detective Morgan returned.
“We have access to the archive.””
Nathan stood.
“What did you find?””
“An encrypted file deposited by Emily shortly before her death.””
“Can we open it?””
“Not yet. But the legal custodian sent us a photograph of the sealed envelope.””
She placed the photograph on the table.
Nathan recognized Emily's handwriting.
This time, the envelope had a different label.
*IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME, OPEN THIS FIRST.*
Nathan looked at the detective.
“Who has the key?””
Morgan answered.
“Your father.””
Nathan felt his blood run cold.
“Why would my father have it?””
“Because Emily named him as the emergency custodian.””
Nathan stared at the photograph.
Then his phone rang.
Robert Sterling.
He answered immediately.
“Father.””
Robert's voice sounded tired.
“Nathan, come home.””
“I have nothing to say to you.””
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
“Then explain it.””
A long silence followed.
Finally, Robert said:
“Your mother died believing our family could still be saved. Don't make me explain why Emily had to disappear from our lives.””
Nathan stopped breathing.
“What did you just say?””
Robert lowered his voice.
“Come home. Alone.””
Nathan looked toward Jada.
Then toward his sleeping daughter.
May you like
His father had just said something no innocent man would ever say.
And Nathan realized the next truth might be the most devastating of all.
