And suddenly I understood something.
This wasn’t just about what happened at the dock.
Someone was already trying to rewrite the story.
I put my phone away.
“Lily,” I said quietly.
“Yes?”
“Did anyone else see what happened?”
Her eyes moved away.
For the first time since I arrived, she looked afraid.
“Dad…”
“What?”
“There was someone else there.”
My heart started racing.
“Who?”
She hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“Ryan’s son, Noah.”
I froze.
“Noah was at the lake?”
She nodded.
“He was standing inside the cabin window.”
“And?”
“He saw everything.”
I leaned forward.
“Why didn’t he tell the police?”
Lily’s face changed.
A mixture of fear and confusion.
“Because Uncle Ryan told him not to.”
I felt every hair on my arms rise.
“What exactly did he say?”
Lily looked at me.
And the words she spoke next changed everything.
“He told Noah… if he wanted to protect his family, he needed to keep his mouth shut.”
