CHAPTER 15
I was alone again.
Everyone had confessed.
Everyone had lied.
I didn't know who to believe.
---
I went back to the hospital and sat with Emma.
She was watching cartoons on the television.
"Mommy," she said, "are you going to be okay?"
"Yes, baby."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, baby. I'm sure."
"Good."
She went back to watching her cartoons.
I watched her, and I felt a surge of protectiveness.
I was her mother.
I would do anything to protect her.
Even if it meant finding the truth on my own.
---
The next morning, I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize.
"Hello," I said.
"Is this Lauren Carter?"
"Yes."
"This is Lee."
"Lee?"
"The arms dealer."
"What do you want?"
"I want to talk to you."
"About what?"
"About Mark."
"Mark is in jail."
"I know."
"So why do you want to talk to me?"
"Because I know the truth."
"What truth?"
"About what happened to your daughter."
"Then tell me."
"Not over the phone."
"Then where?"
"Meet me at the Alexandria docks. Tomorrow at noon."
"Okay."
---
I went to the Alexandria docks.
Lee was there, waiting for me.
He was tall and muscular, with a shaved head and dark eyes.
"You came," he said.
"Yes."
"Good."
"What do you want to tell me?"
"Mark didn't do it."
"What?"
"Rachel didn't do it either."
"Then who did?"
"I did."
"What?"
"I poisoned your daughter."
"Why?"
"Because Mark owed me money. Three hundred thousand dollars. He refused to pay me back. So I decided to get revenge."
"By killing his daughter?"
"Yes."
"But why?"
"Because it would hurt him more than killing him."
"So you poisoned his daughter?"
"Yes."
"With propofol?"
"Yes."
"How did you get it?"
"I bought it from Vincent."
"How did Mark find out?"
"He didn't. Not until after it happened."
"Then why did he confess?"
"Because I threatened him."
"You threatened him?"
"Yes. I told him I would kill Emma if he didn't confess."
"But you already poisoned her."
"I know. But I didn't want to kill her. I just wanted to hurt her. I wanted to scare Mark."
"Then why did she almost die?"
"The dose was too high. I didn't mean for it to be that high."
"Did you give it to Rachel?"
"No. Rachel wasn't involved."
"Then why did she confess?"
"Because I threatened her too."
"You threatened her?"
"Yes. I told her I would kill David if she didn't confess."
"David? Her son?"
"Yes."
"So Rachel confessed to protect her son?"
"Yes."
"Then why did Mrs. Carter hide the truth?"
"Because I threatened her too."
"Mrs. Carter?"
"Yes. I told her I would kill her if she told anyone."
"So everyone confessed because you threatened them?"
"Yes."
I stared at him.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
"Because I'm tired of lying."
"Then why did you do it?"
"Because I was angry."
"Angry about what?"
"Mark stole from me."
"He stole from you?"
"Yes. Three hundred thousand dollars."
"How?"
"He gambled it away."
"Then why didn't you kill him?"
"I tried. But he was arrested before I could."
"So you poisoned his daughter instead."
"Yes."
"Lee, you need to turn yourself in."
"I know."
"Then why are you telling me?"
"Because I want to make things right."
"You can't make things right."
"I know."
"Then why are you confessing?"
"Because I'm tired of running."
"Is that the truth?"
"Yes."
"Then come with me."
"Where?"
"To the police station."
"Okay."
---
I took Lee to the police station.
Detective Miller was surprised to see us.
"Who is this?" she asked.
"Lee," I said. "The arms dealer."
"The arms dealer?"
"Yes. He confessed to everything."
"You confessed?" Detective Miller asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I'm tired of lying."
"Tell me what happened."
Lee told her everything.
The theft, the poisoning, the threats.
Detective Miller listened carefully, then nodded.
"Thank you for coming forward," she said.
"I'm sorry," Lee said.
"I know."
She handcuffed him and led him away.
---
I went back to the hospital and sat with Emma.
"Mommy," she said, "are you okay?"
"Yes, baby."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Good."
She went back to watching her cartoons.
I looked at her, and I thought about everything that had happened.
The lies.
The secrets.
The betrayal.
It was all over now.
Lee had confessed.
Mark and Rachel were free.
May you like
I had my daughter back.
Things were finally going to be okay.
