CHAPTER 13
I went back to the hospital and sat with Emma.
She was sleeping peacefully.
I watched her chest rise and fall.
She was alive.
She was okay.
But I wasn't.
I was a mess.
I was angry and confused and desperate.
I needed answers.
But no one was giving them to me.
---
The next morning, I got a phone call from Detective Miller.
"I found something," she said.
"What?"
"Mark's computer. There was a file on it. A document."
"What kind of document?"
"A confession."
"A confession?"
"Yes. Mark confessed to everything."
"What did he confess to?"
"He confessed to poisoning Emma. He confessed to stealing money from you. He confessed to working with Lee."
"Where is the document?"
"I sent it to your email."
I opened my email and read the document.
My name is Mark Carter. I am the one who poisoned my daughter, Emma Carter. I did it because I was desperate. I owed money to a man named Lee. He was going to kill me if I didn't pay him. I stole money from my wife's savings account. I used it to buy propofol from a man named Vincent. I planned to use it to kill myself. But I changed my mind. I decided to use it on Emma instead. I thought she would be better off dead. I thought she would be safer. I know I was wrong. I am sorry. I am so sorry.
I read the document three times.
"Why did he confess?" I asked.
"I don't know."
"Do you think it's true?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Because it matches the evidence."
"Then why are you telling me?"
"Because I thought you should know."
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
"That's up to you."
I hung up the phone and stared at the wall.
Mark had confessed.
Mark had admitted everything.
But it didn't make sense.
Why would he confess?
Why would he admit to something he hadn't done?
Unless he had done it.
Unless he had poisoned Emma.
Unless he had stolen money.
Unless he had worked with Lee.
The truth was staring me in the face.
But I didn't want to believe it.
---
I went to see Mark for the fifth time.
"I read the confession," I said.
"I know."
"Why did you confess?"
"Because it's the truth."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"Mark, I know you didn't do it."
"Yes, I did."
"You didn't."
"Yes, I did."
"You didn't."
"Yes, I did."
"Then why are you lying?"
"I'm not lying."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Mark, I need to know the truth."
"I told you the truth."
No, you didn't.
Yes, I did.
Mark, please.
I can't.
Why not?
Because I don't want to hurt you.
You're already hurting me.
I know.
So tell me.
I can't.
Then I can't help you.
Goodbye, Mark.
I walked out.
---
I went to see Rachel for the fifth time.
"Mark confessed," I said.
"I know."
"Why did he confess?"
"Because he's guilty."
"No, he's not."
"Yes, he is."
"Rachel, you need to tell me the truth."
"I am."
"You're not."
"I am."
"Rachel, I know you did it."
"What?"
"I know you poisoned Emma."
"Lauren, that's crazy."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"Rachel, I saw you smile."
"I didn't smile."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Rachel, I know you did it."
"Lauren, you're wrong."
"I'm not wrong."
"Lauren, please."
"Rachel, tell me the truth."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because if I do, something terrible will happen."
"Something terrible already happened."
"I know."
"So tell me."
I can't.
Then I can't help you.
Goodbye, Rachel.
I walked out.
---
I went to see Mrs. Carter for the third time.
"Mark confessed," I said.
"I know."
"Why did he confess?"
"Because he's guilty."
"No, he's not."
"Yes, he is."
"Mrs. Carter, you need to tell me the truth."
"I am."
"You're not."
"I am."
"Mrs. Carter, I know Rachel did it."
"What?"
"Rachel poisoned Emma."
"Lauren, that's crazy."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"Mrs. Carter, I saw Rachel smile."
"She didn't smile."
"Yes, she did."
"No, she didn't."
"Mrs. Carter, I know Rachel did it."
"Lauren, you're wrong."
"I'm not wrong."
"Mrs. Carter, tell me the truth."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because if I do, something terrible will happen."
"Something terrible already happened."
"I know."
"So tell me."
I can't.
Then I can't help you.
May you like
Goodbye, Mrs. Carter.
I walked out.
