Chapter 6: The Voice From the Past
I didn’t cry when I saw Lily’s drawing.
I wanted to.
Every part of me wanted to collapse.
But I couldn’t.
Because for the first time, I understood something.
My daughter had been trying to tell me.
She had been telling me in small ways.
And I had been too busy explaining everyone else’s behavior to listen.
Detective Morgan placed the drawing carefully into evidence.
“We need to talk to Rachel.””
I looked at her.
“Daniel’s ex-wife?””
She nodded.
“Now.””
The drive to meet Rachel felt endless.
I sat in the passenger seat staring out the window.
The world kept moving like nothing had happened.
People walking their dogs.
Cars stopping at traffic lights.
Parents holding children’s hands.
Normal life.
Except mine had changed forever.
When we arrived at Rachel’s house, I expected anger.
I expected resentment.
Instead, when she opened the door and saw Detective Morgan, her face went pale.
Then she saw me.
And she immediately understood.
“Oh no.””
Those were her first words.
Not hello.
Not who are you.
Oh no.
Like she had been waiting for this day.
Inside, Rachel made coffee but never drank it.
Her hands shook around the cup.
“How is the child?””
“Lily is safe,” I said.
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Thank God.””
I stared at her.
“You knew something was wrong.””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes filled with guilt.
“Because I tried before.””
I didn’t understand.
“What?””
Rachel looked at Detective Morgan.
“Tell her.””
Detective Morgan nodded.
“Rachel reported concerns during her custody dispute.””
I looked back at Rachel.
“And nobody listened?””
Rachel gave a sad smile.
“They listened.””
That surprised me.
“Then why didn’t anything happen?””
“Because Daniel convinced everyone I was bitter.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“He said you were unstable.””
Rachel nodded.
“That was his favorite word.””
The same word.
The same weapon.
Rachel continued.
“Patricia always believed fear was the best way to control children.””
I looked down.
“Lily said she practiced.””
Rachel’s face changed.
“She said that?””
I nodded.
Rachel leaned back.
“She used to say that about my son.””
I froze.
“Your son?””
Rachel looked at me.
“Daniel’s first child.””
My heart dropped.
“I thought you only had one child.””
Rachel shook her head.
“No.””
A terrible feeling moved through me.
“Where is he?””
Rachel’s eyes became sad.
“He left.””
“Left where?””
“He turned eighteen and moved away.””
“Why?””
Rachel looked at Detective Morgan.
“Because he said he couldn’t live in that house anymore.””
The room went silent.
Then Rachel whispered:
“He told me he spent years trying to be perfect so Patricia wouldn’t get angry.””
I felt sick.
Another child.
Another story.
Another person nobody believed.
Detective Morgan asked:
“Did Daniel participate?””
Rachel looked away.
“That’s the part I struggled with.””
“What do you mean?””
“Daniel wasn’t always cruel.””
I listened.
“He would apologize afterward.””
Those words hit me.
Because I knew them.
The cycle.
The kindness after the damage.
The promise that it would never happen again.
Rachel continued.
“He would say, ‘My mother is just trying to help.’”
I closed my eyes.
Exactly.
Detective Morgan leaned forward.
“Rachel, we need specifics.””
Rachel nodded.
“I have something.””
She stood and walked to a cabinet.
When she returned, she held an old storage box.
“I kept everything.””
Inside were letters.
School records.
Old notes.
Evidence from a life she thought nobody would believe.
She handed Detective Morgan one document.
The detective read it.
Then another.
Then another.
Her expression changed.
“What is it?””
Detective Morgan looked at me.
“Patricia had been reported before.””
My heart sank.
“By who?””
Rachel answered quietly.
“Three different families.””
I stared.
“Families?””
Rachel nodded.
“She worked as a childcare volunteer years ago.””
The room became silent.
Detective Morgan closed the folder.
“This changes everything.””
My phone suddenly rang.
I looked down.
It was the hospital.
My heart jumped.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
A nurse’s voice came through.
“Mrs. Anderson, you need to come back.””
I stood.
“What happened?””
There was a pause.
Then the nurse said:
“Your daughter woke up.””
I exhaled.
“Is she okay?””
The nurse hesitated.
“No.””
My blood ran cold.
“What do you mean?””
The nurse lowered her voice.
“Because she asked for you.””
I gripped the phone.
“And?””
The nurse paused.
“She said there is something she forgot to tell you.””
I looked at Detective Morgan.
“What did she say?””
The nurse answered:
“She said Grandma didn’t come to your house with one bottle.””
A chill moved through me.
“She came with two.””
I felt my hands go numb.
May you like
Because we had already found the second bottle.
So why was Lily saying there was another one?
