Lily Found “214” Written Inside a Forbidden Kitchen Cabinet — Then Michael Saw the Look on Rachel’s Face
Chapter 7 — Thomas’s Voice
Rachel hadn’t heard her father’s voice in more than twenty years.
She recognized it immediately.
Thomas sounded frightened.
The recording appeared to be from a phone call Evelyn had secretly taped.
“Evie, listen carefully.”
Evelyn answered:
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Everyone thinks you stole the money.”
“I know.”
Then Thomas said:
“Charles used my access codes.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
Thomas claimed Charles had help from someone in the foundation’s accounting office.
When Thomas threatened to expose them, Charles warned him that Rachel and Evelyn could become involved in the investigation.
Thomas panicked.
He left town.
His plan was to stay hidden briefly while an attorney gathered evidence.
But then everything went wrong.
The attorney stopped returning calls.
Thomas believed Charles had discovered where he was.
He moved again.
“Why didn’t you come home?” Evelyn asked on the tape.
Thomas’s answer broke Rachel.
“Because by then everybody believed I was guilty, and Charles was sitting inside our house pretending to help you.”
Evelyn began crying on the recording.
Thomas begged her not to confront Charles.
He promised he would contact her again.
The tape ended.
Rachel sat motionless.
Michael looked at the date written on the cassette.
The recording had been made fourteen months after Thomas disappeared.
Which meant one thing was certain.
Thomas had been alive long after everyone assumed he fled permanently.
Then Rachel noticed another envelope beneath the tape.
It had been mailed to Evelyn nine years later.
