PART 7 — THE SECRET REBECCA SAVED FOR LAST

I read the sentence six times.

Then I called Michael.

He arrived fifteen minutes later.

I handed him the letter without explanation.

His face changed as he read.

Rebecca wrote that shortly before Ryan was born, Michael had disappeared for eleven days.

I remembered.

He had told me his father was ill.

He flew to Denver.

At least that was what I believed.

Rebecca’s letter said he had actually gone to testify before a sealed federal grand jury.

Mercer discovered it.

He ordered someone to follow me.

Rebecca intervened.

One night, while I was eight months pregnant, a man waited outside the restaurant where I worked.

Rebecca had seen him.

She distracted him.

The following morning, she arranged for me to receive an anonymous warning telling me not to drive home by my usual route.

I remembered that note.

I had always assumed it was a prank.