Chapter 3 - FOUR YEARS AGOThe hospital lights seemed too bright.
Everything had become unreal.
Daniel.
The prescription.
The threatening messages.
Amber.
And now four years ago.
The year my husband died.
I had spent four years believing Daniel’s death was an accident.
He had been driving home after a business meeting when his car crashed on a wet road.
The police ruled it accidental.
Case closed.
At least, that's what I had been told.
I looked at Amber.
“What happened four years ago?”
She stared at the floor.
“Nothing.”
Miller immediately noticed.
“That wasn't convincing.”
Amber raised her eyes.
“You people are imagining things.”
I stepped closer.
“Did Daniel know something?”
She said nothing.
“Did you know him?”
“I was your sister-in-law.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“I knew him.”
“Were you seeing him?”
Her face hardened.
“No.”
The denial came too quickly.
Lily began crying again.
“Mommy…”
Amber grabbed her hand.
“Come on.”
Miller stopped her.
“Your daughter isn't leaving yet.”
Amber glared at him.
“You can't keep us here.”
“No. But I can ask questions.”
He turned to me.
“Sarah, I need the full history of your husband's death.”
“I gave it to the police four years ago.”
“I know.”
He pulled out his phone.
“The original accident report contains something unusual.”
“What?”
“There was no rain on the roadway where Daniel's crash occurred.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“He was told he was driving through heavy rain.”
Miller shook his head.
“The weather station recorded light drizzle.”
My heart started pounding.
“That doesn't mean anything.”
“Maybe not.”
He looked at me.
“But Daniel's brakes had been tampered with.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What?”
“The original report noted mechanical failure.”
He paused.
“Someone changed the brake lines.”
A cold sensation moved through my body.
“Why wasn't that investigated?”
“Because the evidence was lost.”
“Lost?”
“The vehicle was destroyed before the follow-up inspection.”
My hands trembled.
“Who had access to it?”
Miller didn't answer immediately.
Then:
“Your husband's employer.”
I thought of the company.
Carter Logistics.
Daniel had been preparing to leave shortly before he died.
He had told me once:
“If anything happens to me, don't trust the people around me.”
At the time, I'd thought it was stress.
Now those words sounded like a warning.
Miller asked:
“Did Daniel ever mention being afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Of whom?”
“I don't know.”
“Did he keep records?”
“Yes.”
My voice became quieter.
“He had a black notebook.”
Miller looked sharply at me.
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
“It disappeared after his death.”
Miller sat down.
“That may be important.”
My phone buzzed again.
This time, the message contained a photograph.
An old photograph.
Daniel standing beside a black car.
Beside him was Amber.
I froze.
Amber was smiling.
Daniel wasn't.
Underneath the image was one sentence:
YOUR HUSBAND DIDN'T DIE THAT NIGHT.
I stared at it.
Miller asked:
“What is it?”
I handed him the phone.
He studied the photo.
“When was this taken?”
I looked at Amber.
She was staring at the image.
Her lips trembled.
“Tell me.”
She shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because you'll never forgive me.”
Miller stood.
“What happened that night?”
Amber looked directly at me.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel called me before he died.”
My heart stopped.
“What did he say?”
Amber swallowed.
“He told me someone was following him.”
“And you didn't tell me?”
“I was scared.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Who was following him?”
Amber looked toward the hospital room where Caleb lay unconscious.
May you like
Then she said:
“The same person who just tried to kill your son.”
