Chapter 2 - THE STORY EVERYONE TOLD DIFFERENTLY
Police arrived seven minutes later.
Diane became someone else immediately.
Calm.
Concerned.
Embarrassed.
She told Officer Daniel Reeves that the family had simply become separated during the storm.
Thomas confirmed it.
Megan said almost nothing.
Rachel stood beside the ambulance while paramedics warmed Lily beneath blankets.
Officer Reeves approached.
“Your mother says this was a misunderstanding.”
Rachel laughed.
“A misunderstanding doesn't bruise both wrists.”
Reeves looked toward the ambulance.
“Doctors will document everything.”
“Lily said my mother told her not to tell me.”
“That matters.”
“Then arrest her.”
“Rachel.”
“Why not?”
“Because we still don't know what happened.”
Rachel hated the sentence.
At the hospital, Lily refused to let Diane into the room.
That mattered too.
The physician, Dr. Helen Morris, examined the bruises.
“They appear consistent with someone gripping or restraining her wrists.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Recent?”
“Yes.”
“How recent?”
“Likely today.”
Lily heard.
Her breathing changed.
Rachel crouched beside her.
“You don't have to tell us tonight.”
Lily whispered:
“I'll get Megan in trouble.”
Rachel froze.
“Megan?”
Lily immediately shook her head.
“I didn't say anything.”
Rachel did not push.
Later, Thomas came alone.
He looked twenty years older.
“Your mother went back to the rental.”
“She isn't coming near Lily.”
“I know.”
“Dad, what happened?”
Thomas sat down.
“I don't know.”
Rachel stared.
“You were there.”
“I was packing the car.”
“Did you see Lily leave the beach?”
“No.”
“Did you know she wasn't in the vehicle?”
Thomas's eyes lowered.
“No.”
Rachel wanted to believe him.
Then she remembered how quickly he had looked away when Diane first said Lily was missing.
“What are you not telling me?”
Thomas stood.
“Not here.”
That was an answer.
Before Rachel could stop him, he left.
At midnight Megan texted.
I need to talk to you alone.
Rachel replied immediately.
Come to the hospital.
Three dots appeared.
Stopped.
Then:
I can't. Mom took my keys.
Rachel stared.
Her thirty-year-old sister.
Mother took my keys.
Another message arrived.
Don't believe what Mom says about why we came back to the beach.
Rachel's pulse accelerated.
Why did you come back?
Megan responded:
Not for Lily.
Then Diane called.
Rachel declined.
Diane called again.
Again.
Finally a voicemail.
“Rachel, your sister is confused. She's been under tremendous stress. Do not involve her in whatever story you're creating.”
Rachel listened twice.
Same language.
Confused.
Stress.
Story.
Words designed to make truth sound like illness.
Then Megan sent one photograph.
A torn piece of paper.
Only part of a sentence was visible:
May you like
...if Rachel discovers what Lily saw, everything changes.
The handwriting belonged to Diane.
