Chapter 4: The Photograph
For several seconds, none of us spoke.
The key lay in my palm.
Small.
Cold.
Heavy enough to make my fingers ache.
Elena stood across from me, staring at my face as though she were trying to compare me to a memory she had never been allowed to keep.
"You think that man was me?"" I asked.
"I don't know.""
Her voice broke.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
Claire stepped toward her.
"Where did you find the photograph?""
"In Mark's desk.""
"Was it hidden?""
"Behind a false panel.""
Claire exchanged a look with me.
Elena noticed.
"What?""
"Nothing," Claire said.
"No. Don't do that."" Elena wiped her cheek.
"Not anymore. Everyone keeps deciding what I can handle.""
I looked at her.
"You're right.""
She looked surprised.
I held out my hand.
"Show me the photograph.""
She pulled out her phone.
Her fingers shook as she opened a picture.
The image filled the screen.
I stared.
It was an old photograph.
Twenty years ago, maybe more.
Miriam stood in front of a lakeside cabin.
She was younger.
Smiling.
Beside her stood a man.
Dark hair.
Broad shoulders.
A small scar near his left eyebrow.
I couldn't breathe.
Because I knew that face.
Not because it was mine.
Because it belonged to my brother.
Thomas.
My older brother.
Dead for nineteen years.
Elena watched my expression.
"That's not you.""
"No.""
"Then why did I think—"
"Because you were looking at the scar.""
She nodded slowly.
"What scar?""
I touched my own left eyebrow.
"When I was twenty-eight, I had an accident at work. The scar is on the other side.""
Elena zoomed in.
The man in the photograph had the scar over his right eyebrow.
My brother had the exact same scar.
I sat down.
Claire pulled out a chair beside me.
"Who is he?""
I swallowed.
"My brother.""
Elena's face went pale.
"Thomas?""
"You knew his name?""
"Miriam told me about him once.""
"When?""
"When I was little.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Thomas was smiling at Miriam.
And Miriam was holding something in her hand.
A tiny ultrasound photograph.
My stomach tightened.
"Elena.""
"What?""
"How old is this picture?""
"I don't know.""
I zoomed closer.
At the bottom corner was a date.
Twenty-seven years ago.
Elena was born twenty-six years ago.
One year before.
I looked at her.
"Your mother was pregnant.""
Elena's eyes widened.
"With me?""
"I don't know.""
Claire leaned over the table.
"There may be another explanation.""
Elena shook her head.
"No.""
She pointed at the screen.
"Look at Mom.""
We did.
Miriam wasn't merely smiling.
She was crying.
One hand rested protectively over her stomach.
Thomas had his arm around her.
I stared at the image until my eyes burned.
"What happened to Thomas?"" Elena asked.
I didn't answer immediately.
"Daniel?""
"He died in a car accident.""
"When?""
"One month before you were born.""
The room went silent.
Elena covered her mouth.
"That's impossible.""
"I know.""
"Then why didn't Mom tell me?""
"I don't know.""
She stood abruptly.
"I need to ask her.""
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
Her phone was still in her hand.
I called Miriam.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
Elena turned toward me.
"You said Robert isn't my father.""
I held up the note.
"Your mother wrote it.""
"Then who is?""
"I don't know.""
She stared at the photograph.
"Could it be Thomas?""
I couldn't answer.
Claire did.
"There's only one way to find out.""
Elena looked at her.
"DNA.""
I nodded.
"We need a sample from Thomas.""
Elena looked confused.
"He's dead.""
"His dental records might still exist," I said.
"Or medical records.""
Claire shook her head.
"Not necessary.""
She pointed at me.
"If Thomas was your brother, a DNA test between you and Elena could establish whether she's your biological niece.""
Elena's eyes widened.
"You're saying we can find out if I'm related to you?""
"Yes.""
"But if I'm his daughter...""
I finished the sentence for her.
"Then you're my niece.""
She stared at me.
"And you've been calling me your stepdaughter for twenty years.""
My throat tightened.
"I didn't know.""
"You really didn't?""
"No.""
She looked away.
I wanted to touch her shoulder.
I didn't.
Not yet.
Her phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Mark.
She declined the call.
It rang again.
She declined it.
Then a text appeared.
*Where are you?*
Another.
*Your father is worried.*
Elena's face hardened.
"Which father?""
She showed me the screen.
I took the phone.
"Don't respond.""
"I wasn't going to.""
The phone rang again.
This time, Elena answered.
"Where are you?"" Mark demanded.
She put him on speaker.
"I'm fine.""
"You disappeared from the house.""
"I needed air.""
"You should have told me.""
"I don't owe you an explanation.""
There was a pause.
"Elena, what's wrong?""
She looked at me.
Then at Claire.
"Nothing.""
Mark's voice softened.
"I love you.""
She closed her eyes.
"I know.""
"I've been looking everywhere.""
"Stop.""
"What?""
"Stop looking.""
Another pause.
Then Mark said quietly, "Are you with Daniel?""
Elena didn't answer.
Mark laughed.
It was a small, humorless sound.
"Of course you are.""
My jaw tightened.
Elena asked, "Why are you afraid of him?""
"I'm not.""
"Then why do you keep telling me he's dangerous?""
"Because he is.""
"Why?""
"Because he knows what he did.""
I stepped forward.
"What did I do, Mark?""
Silence.
Then Mark hung up.
Elena stared at the phone.
"He knows.""
"Knows what?""
"I don't know.""
Claire suddenly stood.
"We need to leave.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because Mark didn't ask where you were.""
She pointed toward the window.
"He asked if you were with Daniel.""
I frowned.
"So?""
"Because he already knew you were here.""
My blood ran cold.
We looked outside.
Across the street, a black sedan was parked beneath a tree.
Nobody sat inside.
Elena whispered, "That's Robert's car.""
Claire grabbed the documents.
"Then we're already too late.""
We left through the back door.
Ten minutes later, we were driving toward the bank.
The safe deposit box was registered under Mark's name.
But Elena had the key.
At the bank, the manager led us into a private room.
"Miss Hale," he said, "I need identification.""
Elena handed him her driver's license.
He studied it.
Then looked at the key.
"I'll need to verify something.""
He disappeared behind a secure door.
Five minutes later, he returned.
"There's a problem.""
Elena stiffened.
"What problem?""
"The box was closed this morning.""
"Closed?""
"Emptied.""
My stomach dropped.
"By whom?""
The manager looked at his computer.
"Your mother.""
Elena went completely still.
"Miriam?""
"Yes.""
"She's been here today?""
"About forty minutes ago.""
Elena's lips parted.
"What did she take?""
The manager hesitated.
"She left a sealed envelope.""
He placed it on the table.
It had my name on it.
I opened it.
Inside was a single sentence.
*If Daniel finds this, tell him I never betrayed him. I was protecting Elena from the truth.*
Underneath was an address.
An old house on the north side of town.
And one final line.
*Come alone.*
Elena grabbed my arm.
"I'm coming.""
"No.""
"I'm coming.""
"Elena—"
She looked into my eyes.
"You spent twenty years protecting me.""
Her voice trembled.
"Let me protect you once.""
Before I could answer, the bank manager's phone rang.
He listened.
Then his face changed.
He looked at me.
"Sir, you need to leave.""
"Why?""
He lowered the phone.
"The police just received a report that your truck was found abandoned.""
I stared at him.
"My truck is outside.""
"No.""
He shook his head.
"The police say your truck was found at the old house.""
Claire's face drained of color.
"That's where the envelope told us to go.""
The manager's phone rang again.
This time, he answered on speaker.
A man's voice came through.
"Tell Daniel not to go to that house.""
I recognized it.
Robert.
"If he does," Robert said, "he'll find Miriam.""
May you like
A pause.
"And she won't be alive.""
