Chapter 6 - THE UNCLE WHO WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE
Steven Carter had always been the family problem nobody discussed directly.
He was charming when he wanted something.
Cruel when he didn’t get it.
He borrowed money he never returned.
He disappeared for months.
He resurfaced with business opportunities that somehow required someone else’s signature.
Daniel stopped speaking to him after a financial dispute five years earlier.
Robert insisted Steven had moved to Arizona.
Apparently he hadn’t.
Emily replayed the footage.
Steven stood near the staircase.
Rachel was whispering.
“Daniel can never know.”
Steven replied, “Then keep the kid quiet.”
Emily felt ice move through her.
Robert reached for the laptop.
“That’s enough.”
Emily pulled it away.
“No.”
“You don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“Then tell me.”
Robert’s face tightened.
“I don’t know.”
“Why was Steven inside Daniel’s house?”
“He came back to Virginia.”
“When?”
“Months ago.”
“And nobody told us?”
“He didn’t want Daniel knowing.”
“Why?”
Robert said nothing.
Emily suddenly understood.
“What did he want?”
Robert looked away.
“What did he want, Dad?”
“Money.”
Of course.
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
“That means a lot.”
Robert sighed.
“He had debts.”
“And Rachel gave him money?”
Robert sat down again.
“She helped him.”
“With whose money?”
Silence.
Emily felt her heart begin pounding.
“Daniel’s?”
“It was a joint account.”
“That doesn’t make secretly giving it to Steven okay.”
Robert rubbed his forehead.
“Steven said he would repay it.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand.”
Emily laughed in disbelief.
Robert stared at the table.
“Then another fifteen.”
“Thirty-five thousand dollars?”
“He had people threatening him.”
Emily looked toward the staircase.
“Noah heard something.”
Robert’s face changed.
“That’s why Rachel was trying to keep him quiet.”
“No.”
“Dad.”
“No.”
“Then explain why she told Steven she’d handle Noah.”
Robert stood.
“You are constructing a story.”
“I’m watching one.”
Emily opened more recordings.
Most were ordinary.
Empty hallway.
Noah doing homework.
Rachel carrying laundry.
Then she found a clip from four weeks earlier.
Steven stood in the kitchen.
Rachel held an envelope.
“You said this was the last time.”
“It is.”
“You said that before.”
“I’ll fix it.”
“How?”
Steven lowered his voice.
Emily increased the volume.
The words remained unclear.
Then Noah appeared at the end of the hallway.
Rachel saw him.
Her face changed.
“What are you doing?”
Noah froze.
“I wanted water.”
Steven turned away from the camera.
Rachel walked toward Noah.
“Go upstairs.”
“I’m thirsty.”
“Now.”
Noah looked at the envelope.
Rachel grabbed his arm.
The clip ended as they moved outside the camera’s motion zone.
Emily opened the next file from Noah’s room.
Thirty seconds later, Rachel pushed him inside.
“What did you hear?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie.”
“I didn’t.”
“What did Uncle Steven say?”
“I don’t know.”
Rachel crouched in front of him.
“If you tell Daddy Steven was here, Daddy might go to jail.”
Noah’s eyes widened.
“Why?”
“Because Daddy gave him money.”
“That’s not bad.”
“It is if people find out.”
Noah started crying.
“I don’t want Daddy in jail.”
“Then you won’t say anything.”
The clip ended.
Emily sat back.
“That’s why.”
Robert whispered, “Jesus.”
“She made him believe Daniel committed a crime.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I didn’t!”
Emily turned on him.
“You installed the cameras. You knew Rachel was punishing him. You knew Steven was back. You knew money was involved. At what point does not asking questions become choosing not to know?”
Robert looked wounded.
Emily didn’t care.
Not anymore.
Her phone rang.
Daniel.
She stared at his name.
Robert stood.
“Don’t.”
Emily answered.
“Hey.”
Daniel sounded tired.
“Hey. Flight changed. I might be home earlier Friday.”
Emily looked at Robert.
“How early?”
“Maybe noon.”
“Good.”
A pause.
“You okay?”
Emily nearly told him everything.
Then Noah appeared on the stairs.
He looked frightened.
Emily remembered Robert’s warning.
Daniel was in Chicago.
He was hours away.
Rachel could still access the house.
And Steven was somewhere nearby.
Emily made a decision.
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
Daniel laughed.
“You don’t sound okay.”
“My knee hurts.”
“Dad being helpful?”
Emily looked straight at Robert.
“Not particularly.”
Daniel sighed.
“I’ll be home soon.”
“Daniel?”
“Yeah?”
“Come directly to Dad’s house when you land.”
A pause.
“Why?”
“Because Noah wants to see you.”
Noah’s eyes filled.
Daniel’s voice softened.
“Tell him I can’t wait.”
Emily swallowed.
“I will.”
She hung up.
Robert exhaled.
“You did the right thing.”
Emily looked at him.
“No.”
She closed the laptop.
“I did the safest thing.”
She stood.
“And now I’m making copies of every recording.”
Robert’s eyes widened.
“Emily.”
“One goes to me.”
She plugged in an external drive.
“One goes online.”
She began copying files.
“And one goes somewhere neither you nor Rachel can touch.”
Robert stared at her.
“What are you planning?”
May you like
Emily looked toward Noah.
“To make sure nobody gets to erase him again.”
