Chapter 4 - THE RED LIGHTHOUSE
There were seven red lighthouses along the state coastline.
Detective Reed listed them on a legal pad while Rachel sat beside Emma’s hospital bed. Joanna had brought Lily to another floor for a formal interview, and Charles, Diane, and Vanessa were still at the police station.
Rachel had received no further messages from the family attorney.
“The child may be remembering a story,” Reed warned.
“Daniel used to take us sailing,” Rachel said. “He knew every lighthouse on the coast.”
“Did he have a favorite?”
“Bellweather Point.”
Reed circled the name.
“It’s been closed for restoration for almost five years.”
“Which would make it a good place to hide.”
“Or a good image for a frightened child to attach to a bedtime story.”
Rachel knew he was right, but the possibility would not release her.
Emma stirred.
“Can I go home?”
“Not yet.”
“I don’t want to go to Grandma’s house.”
“You won’t.”
“Promise?”
Rachel held the child’s hand between both of hers.
“I promise.”
The word settled heavily in the room.
Rachel had made promises before. She had promised Caroline she would watch over Emma. She had promised herself that she would question the bruises. She had promised she would stop letting her parents make her doubt her own instincts.
She had failed each time.
This promise would be different.
Joanna entered with a folder pressed against her chest.
“How is she?”
“Scared.”
“That’s understandable.”
“What did Lily say?”
Joanna looked at Detective Reed. He nodded.
“She described repeated punishment,” Joanna said. “Vanessa locked Emma in a pantry, withheld meals, and forced Lily to participate in humiliating her.”
Rachel looked toward Emma.
“Why would she do that?”
“To create shared guilt. It makes witnesses less likely to talk.”
“Did Lily hurt Emma?”
“She said her mother made her push Emma near the swimming pool.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
The messages had suggested Vanessa was responsible.
But perhaps the truth was crueler.
“Lily tried to refuse,” Joanna continued. “Vanessa told her that if she did not obey, she would send Lily away and adopt Emma instead.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Vanessa hated Emma.”
“It wasn’t meant to make sense. It was meant to frighten both children.”
Detective Reed asked, “What about Charles and Diane?”
“Lily said her grandfather knew about the pantry. She saw him unlock it once and tell Emma to stop causing trouble. Diane instructed Lily to say Emma bruised easily.”
Rachel felt as though she were listening to strangers describe monsters wearing her parents’ faces.
Joanna opened the folder.
“There’s more. Lily saw Caroline at the house two months after your family claimed she had left the state.”
Rachel stood.
“What?”
“She said Caroline came at night. There was an argument in Charles’s office. Lily heard glass breaking.”
“Did she see Caroline leave?”
“No.”
The room became very quiet.
“Then where is my sister?”
“We don’t know,” Detective Reed said.
Rachel looked toward the window.
The sky had darkened. Rain tapped lightly against the glass.
“What does this have to do with Emma’s father?”
“That’s what we need to establish.”
Reed’s phone rang. He stepped into the corridor, spoke for less than a minute, and returned with a changed expression.
“The hidden phone’s preliminary records came back.”
“And?”
“It belonged to Caroline.”
Rachel gripped the edge of the bed.
“The calls from Daniel?”
“The number is registered to a prepaid device. Its most recent signal was near Bellweather Point.”
The red lighthouse.
Rachel moved toward the door.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No.”
“He might be my brother-in-law.”
“And this could be a trap.”
“I need to know.”
“You need to stay with Emma.”
The child’s eyes had opened. She watched Rachel silently.
Rachel returned to the bedside.
Detective Reed softened his tone.
“We’re sending a team. I’ll contact you as soon as we know more.”
He left.
Joanna sat near the window.
“Rachel, I need to discuss temporary placement.”
“I’ll take Emma.”
“You’re the obvious choice, but there will be a home assessment.”
“My apartment only has one bedroom.”
“That can be addressed.”
“And Lily?”
Joanna hesitated.
“We’re looking for separate emergency care.”
“Separate?”
“Given the circumstances, keeping them together may not be appropriate immediately.”
Rachel looked at Emma.
“Does she know Lily was forced to push her?”
“We don’t know.”
Emma spoke quietly.
“She said sorry.”
Rachel turned.
“When?”
“In the pool. Lily said sorry before she pushed me.”
Tears filled Rachel’s eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Grandma said Lily would disappear like Mommy.”
Joanna looked sharply at Rachel.
Emma pulled the blanket to her chin.
“Is Mommy in the dark room?”
May you like
“What dark room?” Rachel asked.
“The one under Grandpa’s office.”
