Chapter 7: The Name Behind the Anonymous Message
Sarah stared at her sister.
Laura's hands were trembling. She had stopped crying, but her eyes remained fixed on the phone in Sarah's hand.
“Who sent that message?”” Sarah asked.
Laura shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“Sarah, I'm telling you the truth.””
“You recognized something. I saw your face.””
Laura sat down heavily on the sofa.
“Please, just put the phone away.””
Sarah didn't move.
“Someone is sending me messages about my husband. They know about the photograph. They know you've been helping Ben. And somehow, you seem more frightened of them than you are concerned about me.””
Laura covered her face.
“It's not supposed to involve you.””
Sarah let out a bitter laugh.
“That's what everyone keeps saying.””
She placed the photograph on the dining table.
“Who is this woman?””
Laura looked at it.
“Her name is Rebecca.””
“Who is she?””
“Someone Ben knows.””
Sarah's eyes narrowed.
“That's not an explanation.””
Laura took a shaky breath.
“Ben met her several months ago. She came to him with a problem, and he agreed to help.””
“What kind of problem?””
“I don't know all the details.””
“Then why are you involved?””
Laura looked toward the kitchen.
“Because Ben needed someone he could trust.””
Sarah's expression hardened.
“And apparently that person was my sister.””
“I didn't plan any of this.””
“Did you meet Rebecca?””
Laura nodded reluctantly.
“How many times?””
“Twice.””
“Where?””
“Once at a restaurant. Once here.””
Sarah looked around the apartment.
“Here?””
Laura nodded.
“Ben brought her.””
Sarah felt something twist inside her chest.
“My husband brought another woman to your apartment?””
“It wasn't what you think.””
“Then what should I think?””
Laura stood up.
“Sarah, nothing happened between them.””
“You don't know what I think happened.””
“I know Ben loves you.””
Sarah stared at her.
“Then why does he keep a photograph of another woman with a message about making sure I never find out?””
Laura had no answer.
Sarah picked up the folder and began examining its contents.
There were several documents, handwritten notes, and copies of correspondence.
One page contained a date and a list of names.
Ben's name appeared several times.
So did Rebecca's.
At the bottom was Laura's signature.
Sarah looked up.
“You signed these?””
Laura nodded.
“What are they?””
“Records of conversations and arrangements.””
“What arrangements?””
Laura reached for the folder.
“Please don't read those.””
Sarah pulled it closer.
“I'm done asking permission to understand my own life.””
She turned another page.
A sentence caught her attention.
The family must remain unaware until the situation is resolved.
Sarah read it twice.
Then she looked at Laura.
“Which family?””
Laura's eyes filled again.
“Yours.””
Sarah slowly closed the folder.
“You mean me.””
Laura nodded.
“Ben didn't want you involved.””
Sarah stood still.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Sarah asked, “Did you know he was in the hospital?””
“Yes.””
“Did you know I had no idea what was happening?””
Laura looked away.
“Yes.””
Sarah's voice became quieter.
“And you still let me go home every night believing he was simply busy with work?””
“I thought he would tell you.””
“When?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you ever think about calling me?””
Laura began crying again.
“Every day.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
Sarah turned toward the door.
Laura grabbed her wrist.
“Please don't leave like this.””
Sarah looked down at her sister's hand.
“Let go.””
Laura released her immediately.
“I'm sorry.””
Sarah picked up her handbag.
“I don't know what hurts more. That Ben hid something from me or that my own sister helped him do it.””
Laura stepped forward.
“Sarah, there is something else.””
Sarah stopped.
“What?””
Laura looked toward the folder.
“The woman in that photograph wasn't the only person Ben was trying to protect.””
Sarah slowly turned around.
“What do you mean?””
Laura hesitated.
“There's someone else who knows everything.””
“Who?””
“Someone who has been in your house.””
Sarah felt her stomach tighten.
“What?””
Laura nodded.
“Someone who visited you while Ben was away.””
Sarah searched her memory.
Friends.
Neighbors.
Relatives.
People who had stopped by over the past few months.
“Who are you talking about?””
Laura opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, the apartment doorbell rang.
Both sisters froze.
Laura's face went completely pale.
Sarah looked toward the door.
“Are you expecting someone?””
Laura shook her head.
The bell rang again.
Then a man's voice came from the hallway.
“Laura? I know you're inside.””
Sarah looked at her sister.
Laura whispered two words.
“Oh, no.””
“Who is it?””
Laura didn't answer.
The man knocked again.
“Laura, open the door. We need to talk about Ben.””
Sarah walked toward the entrance.
Laura hurried after her.
“Sarah, don't!””
But Sarah had already opened the door.
Standing outside was Dr. Arnold.
He looked surprised to see her.
Then his eyes moved toward the open folder on the dining table.
His expression changed immediately.
“Sarah,” he said quietly.
“I was hoping I wouldn't have to find you here.””
Sarah stared at him.
“Why are you following me?””
Arnold stepped inside.
“Because someone has made a serious mistake.””
Sarah folded her arms.
“What mistake?””
Arnold looked at Laura.
Then he turned back to Sarah.
“Ben didn't write that letter because he was hiding another woman from you.””
Sarah's heart pounded.
“Then why did he write it?””
Arnold took a slow breath.
“Because the person in that photograph is connected to something that happened long before Ben became ill.””
Sarah went cold.
“What happened?””
Arnold glanced toward the folder again.
“Something that could change everything you believe about your marriage.””
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And before Sarah could demand an explanation, Arnold added:
“But there's one thing Ben never told you about that photograph.””
