Chapter 11 - Lily's Memory
Alex returned to the house with Lily under police protection.
He didn't tell her everything.
He couldn't.
But he needed the truth.
“Sweetheart, do you remember the night Mommy disappeared?”
Lily nodded.
“Was Mommy scared?”
“Yes.”
“Who was she talking to?”
“Grandma.”
Alex's heart sank.
“What did Grandma say?”
“She said Mommy had to go away.”
“Where?”
“She said somewhere safe.”
“Did Mommy believe her?”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
“What happened next?”
Lily looked down.
“Mommy gave me my doll.”
Alex looked at the doll.
“Why?”
“She said it had a secret.”
Alex examined it.
The doll had a tiny zipper in its dress.
Inside was a memory card.
Alex stared.
Derek whispered.
“She planned everything.”
The memory card contained one video.
Clara appeared on screen.
Her face was tired.
Her eyes were red.
But she was alive.
“Alex, if you're watching this, Lily is safe.”
Alex stopped breathing.
Clara continued.
“I need you to forgive me for what I am about to do.”
The video cut.
A second clip appeared.
Clara was in a different room.
Behind her was a hospital bed.
Arthur sat in it.
But another man stood beside him.
The same man from the photograph.
Clara said:
“Your father isn't the only Carter hiding something.”
Alex stared.
The video ended.
A final file appeared.
It contained only audio.
Clara's voice whispered:
“If Lily remembers the blue room, she will remember who came through the door.”
Alex looked at Lily.
“What door?”
Lily pointed toward the staircase.
“The one Grandma said I wasn't allowed to open.”
Alex followed her.
There was an old door behind a curtain.
He opened it.
Inside was a narrow hallway.
At the end was a mirror.
Lily walked toward it.
She touched the glass.
“I saw him here.”
“Who?”
She whispered.
“The man who looked like Grandpa.”
Alex's blood ran cold.
Then the mirror moved.
Behind it was a hidden room.
Inside sat a chair.
A camera.
And dozens of recordings.
Someone had been recording the family.
For years.
Alex pressed play on the newest file.
The image appeared.
Teresa sat in the chair.
Across from her was Clara.
Clara looked frightened.
Teresa leaned toward her.
“You should never have found out.”
Clara answered.
“Then tell me why Lily's birth certificate has no father.”
The recording ended.
Alex stared at the screen.
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Behind him, Derek whispered:
“Now you know why they wanted the funeral.”
