Chapter 3 - Anna
Ryan stepped between his mother and me.
"You said Dad destroyed your copy."
Linda's eyes stayed on the envelope.
"Your father was sick at the end. He wrote things that weren't true."
"What things?" I asked.
She ignored me.
Ryan pulled out a three-page hospital report. The first page listed Anna Mercer, eight months old. The second contained notes from an emergency physician.
Possible aspiration event.
Bruising around jaw inconsistent with resuscitation.
Family declined autopsy.
I read the line twice.
"Ryan."
His face had gone gray.
"Dad told me she stopped breathing in her sleep."
Linda snapped, "Because she did."
Then Ryan found another paper.
It wasn't medical.
It was handwritten.
I, Linda Mercer, agree that I will never be left alone with a child under the age of five without another adult present.
Signed: Linda Mercer.
Witness: Frank Mercer.
Date: three days after Anna died.
The room seemed to tilt.
"You signed this," I said.
Linda moved toward me.
Ryan blocked her.
"Don't."
Her voice dropped. "Your father forced me."
"Why?"
She looked at him with something close to hatred.
"Because after your sister died, he needed someone to blame."
Noah stirred in my arms.
Ryan stared at the paper.
"Then why did you promise me, when Noah was born, that you wouldn't repeat anything?"
Linda said nothing.
That silence answered too much.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
A text appeared.
IF YOU OPENED FRANK'S ENVELOPE, DO NOT LET LINDA LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH ANY PAPERS.
May you like
A second message followed.
SHE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO ANNA.
