Chapter 12 - Rebecca Behind the Wall?
Everything suddenly pointed away from Rachel.
Rebecca Lane had investigated Richard’s diverted accounts with Rachel.
After Rachel vanished, Rebecca suffered a breakdown and disappeared from professional life.
Richard used Rebecca’s identity to fabricate proof Rachel died.
Years later Rebecca lived quietly under care.
Three weeks ago, she left residence.
Nine days ago, hidden woman entered Whitmore Manor.
Timeline fit.
Rebecca knew Vanessa.
Richard.
Orchard House.
Rachel’s ring potentially.
Maybe Rachel entrusted ring to her.
Daniel felt disappointment he hated himself for feeling.
He wanted woman to be Rachel.
But evidence suggested Rebecca.
Police searched passage thoroughly again.
They found a handwritten accounting sequence.
Rebecca’s handwriting matched.
So likely she had been there.
Then why Lily heard “Bluebird”?
Rebecca worked closely with Rachel and could know nickname.
Why childhood tap signal?
Could have learned from Rachel.
Why wedding ring?
Rachel could have given it to Rebecca.
Every apparently impossible clue now had ordinary explanation.
Daniel forced himself to accept uncertainty.
Then Rebecca was found.
Not inside mansion.
At a nearby church.
Safe.
Exhausted.
She admitted entering passage.
She had hidden there for six days because she feared Richard’s former associates would destroy documents.
She spoke through vent to Lily.
Accepted bread.
And regretted frightening child.
Daniel asked:
“Did you give Lily Rachel’s ring?”
Rebecca shook head.
“No.”
Silence.
“Did you push it through vent?”
“No.”
“Were you there when the ring appeared?”
“No. I left that morning.”
Daniel looked at police timeline.
Rebecca exited greenhouse at 7:40 a.m.
Lily fed hidden person at 11:15.
Four hours later.
So there had been another woman in passage after Rebecca left.
Rebecca stared at ring and began crying.
“Where did you get that?”
“Someone pushed it through wall.”
Rebecca covered mouth.
“Then she came back.”
“Rachel?”
Rebecca nodded.
“I gave that ring back to Rachel eighteen months ago.”
Daniel could barely breathe.
“You saw her?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Rebecca looked at Vanessa.
“In this house.”
Vanessa went pale.
Daniel turned.
Rebecca continued:
“Rachel came back once. She stood in that hallway. She was going to tell you everything.”
“What stopped her?”
“She saw Vanessa.”
Vanessa whispered:
“I wasn't living here eighteen months ago.”
Rebecca nodded.
“No.”
May you like
Then looked directly at Daniel.
“You were meeting her.”
