Chapter 6 - THE HONEYMOON PLAN
The detective read the words twice.
Then he photographed the screen.
“Don't touch anything else.”
I stared at ACCIDENT WINDOW.
“What does that mean?”
Nobody answered.
Because we all knew what it might mean.
Our honeymoon was supposed to be in Costa Rica.
Rebecca had chosen the resort.
Rebecca had planned the excursions.
Rebecca had insisted we go hiking near a remote waterfall.
I suddenly remembered an argument we'd had.
I wanted to take Emily with us for part of the trip.
Rebecca refused.
She said children ruined honeymoons.
At the time, I'd laughed.
Now nothing about it seemed funny.
The police seized the computer.
They also found a folder containing copies of my passport and medical information.
Rebecca had researched accidental death claims abroad.
That didn't prove she intended to kill me.
But it was enough to turn suspicion into an investigation.
I went to Rachel's house.
Emily was asleep on the couch.
Her wedding dress had been replaced by pajamas.
I sat beside her.
She woke immediately.
“Daddy?”
“I'm here.”
“Did you marry her?”
“No.”
A tiny smile appeared.
Then disappeared.
“Is Rebecca mad at me?”
“No.”
“Because I showed you the note?”
“You did exactly the right thing.”
She looked at her hands.
“She said you'd hate me.”
My throat tightened.
“What else did she tell you?”
Emily hesitated.
“Sweetheart, you can tell me anything.”
“She said Mommy would be disappointed in me.”
I closed my eyes.
That woman had used my dead wife against my child.
Emily continued.
“She said if I loved you, I'd go away.”
Rachel turned toward the window because she was crying.
I stayed calm for Emily.
“What else?”
“She said you were tired because of me.”
“No.”
“She said that's why you drink.”
My stomach dropped.
“I don't drink.”
“I know.”
Emily looked at me.
“I saw her put bottles in the trash.”
I froze.
“What bottles?”
“The brown ones.”
Rebecca had been planting alcohol around the house.
Even Emily had noticed.
Then Emily said something else.
“She gave me medicine once.”
Every muscle in my body tightened.
“What medicine?”
“She said it would make me sleepy.”
“When?”
“When you went to Chicago.”
I remembered the trip.
Three months earlier.
One night.
Rebecca had stayed with Emily.
“What happened?”
“I got really tired.”
“Then what?”
“I woke up and Rebecca was talking to a man.”
“What man?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you see him?”
Emily nodded.
“Uncle Nathan.”
My blood ran cold.
“What were they talking about?”
Emily rubbed her eyes.
“I don't remember.”
Then she paused.
“Wait.”
“What?”
She looked at me.
“They were moving papers.”
“What papers?”
“Mommy's papers.”
Sarah's documents.
“Where?”
Emily pointed toward the hallway.
“From your secret box.”
My safe.
Only two people knew the combination.
Me.
And Rebecca.
I stood.
Rachel looked at me.
“What?”
I grabbed my phone.
Because inside that safe was something more important than money.
May you like
Sarah's original will.
And suddenly I knew exactly why Rebecca had needed access to it.
