Chapter 9 - TABITHA'S SECRETI couldn't speak.
Tabitha had been in the car.
The day Claire supposedly died.
The day my entire life changed.
I looked at my wife.
“She was with you?”
Claire nodded.
“Why?”
“Because she wanted to help me escape.”
I laughed bitterly.
“She stole our daughter's medication.”
“I know.”
“She lied to me.”
“I know.”
“She helped my father.”
“I know.”
“Then why would she be in the car with you?”
Claire's voice broke.
“Because Tabitha was trying to betray him.”
That made no sense.
Claire explained.
“Your sister discovered the financial records.”
“Then why didn't she tell me?”
“She tried.”
“When?”
“The night you left for work.”
I remembered.
Tabitha had called me.
I had ignored it.
She called seven times.
I had been angry.
I thought she wanted money.
“Why didn't she call again?”
“Because your father took her phone.”
I stared at Claire.
“What happened in the crash?”
“We were being followed.”
“By whom?”
“Your father's security team.”
“Why?”
“Because we had the records.”
Claire looked at Juniper.
“We were taking the evidence somewhere safe.”
“What happened then?”
“Tabitha told me to keep driving.”
“And?”
“They rammed us.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“The car spun.”
“You survived.”
“Tabitha pulled me out.”
“Then?”
“She told me I had to disappear.”
“Why?”
“Because they were going to blame me for the crash.”
She swallowed.
“Before the ambulance arrived, Tabitha dragged me away.”
I felt sick.
“So she faked your death?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is she hurting Juniper?”
Claire's face hardened.
“Because something changed.”
“What?”
“Your father discovered that Tabitha had taken something.”
“What?”
“The original trust key.”
I looked at Willa.
“You knew?”
Willa shook her head.
“No.”
Claire continued.
“Tabitha hid the key somewhere your father couldn't find.”
“Where?”
“She wouldn't tell me.”
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Tabitha.
I DIDN'T TAKE JUNIPER'S INHALER TO HURT HER.
Another message appeared.
I TOOK IT BECAUSE THEY WERE SEARCHING IT.
Then:
YOU NEED TO GET JUNIPER TO A HOSPITAL. NOW.
I stared.
Then came the final message.
THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE HER ASTHMA MACHINE.
I looked at Juniper.
Her small medical bag was beside her.
I opened it.
Nothing looked unusual.
Until I touched the zipper.
There was a hidden compartment.
Inside was a tiny USB drive.
I held it up.
A new text appeared.
PLAY IT ALONE.
I pressed play.
Tabitha's voice filled the car.
“I am sorry, Ethan.”
Then she started crying.
“I didn't know how else to protect her.”
A pause.
Then she whispered:
May you like
“The first time your father tried to kill Juniper, she wasn't even sick.”
The recording ended.
