Chapter 2 - The Woman Rachel Already Knew
I locked Rachel’s papers in my office safe.
Then I took Sophie to my sister Emily’s house.
Vanessa protested immediately.
“You’re taking her because of some crazy note from a dead woman?”
I stopped at the front door.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
She went silent.
At Emily’s house, Sophie wouldn't let go of me.
I sat beside her while my sister gently examined the uneven hair.
“Did Vanessa cut it before today?”
Sophie shook her head.
“Did she ever search your clothes?”
A nod.
My stomach tightened.
“Where?”
“Pockets.”
“Why?”
Sophie whispered, “Mommy’s secret.”
Rachel had died when Sophie was two.
How could a five-year-old remember instructions from her?
Then Sophie explained.
Rachel hadn't given her the capsule.
Someone else had.
Three weeks earlier, Sophie had found it inside an old stuffed lamb from Rachel’s room.
That lamb had been packed away for years.
Vanessa saw Sophie carrying it.
From that day forward, Vanessa became obsessed with finding what Sophie had discovered.
She checked her pockets.
Her backpack.
Her toy box.
Finally, her hair.
“Why your hair?”
Sophie touched the chopped side.
“She thought I hid it there.”
I felt sick.
Later that night, I opened Rachel’s note again.
Rachel wrote that she'd discovered Vanessa was using another surname when they first met.
They had known each other before Vanessa ever “accidentally” met me.
More importantly, Rachel believed Vanessa had been searching for information about Sophie.
But Rachel never wrote why.
The note ended with an instruction:
**Call Dr. Nathan Brooks. Do not tell Vanessa first.**
I knew the name.
Nathan had worked at the hospital where Rachel died.
I called.
When I identified myself, he became silent.
Then:
“Daniel, where is Sophie?”
“With family.”
“Keep her there.”
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Why?”
Nathan exhaled.
“Because Rachel made me promise I wouldn't tell you unless you found that letter.”
“Tell me what?”
Another silence.
“Vanessa Carter isn't the name I knew her by.”
I stood.
“What was her name?”
Nathan answered.
May you like
And suddenly I remembered seeing that surname somewhere before.
On Rachel’s medical records.
