Chapter 4: The Child in the Photograph
“GET HER AWAY FROM THE HOUSE!””
Elizabeth's voice echoed beneath the swimming pool.
Marcus spun around.
Ava stood in the glass doorway, clutching the pink stuffed rabbit against her chest. Her pale-yellow dress was still damp around the hem from sitting beside the pool.
Vanessa rushed toward her.
“Give Mommy the rabbit, sweetheart.””
Ava stepped backward.
“No.””
Vanessa stopped.
“Ava, please.””
“You said Aunt Elizabeth was sleeping.””
Marcus moved between them.
“Don't touch her.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Marcus, you have to listen to me. That woman is dangerous.””
“She's locked beneath our swimming pool. I think she's entitled to explain herself.””
“You don't know what she's capable of!””
“Neither do you, apparently.””
He turned toward Ava.
“Sweetheart, come here.””
Ava ran into his arms.
Marcus lifted her and carried her away from the pool.
“Daniel,” he said into the phone, “I need you to tell me what's happening.””
Daniel's voice sounded strained.
“Get Ava into the car. Don't let Vanessa take her anywhere.””
Vanessa immediately protested.
“Daniel, shut up!””
“Why?”” Marcus demanded.
“What are you afraid she'll tell me?””
Vanessa reached for Ava.
Marcus turned his shoulder.
“Stay away from us.””
Ava buried her face in his neck.
“Daddy, I don't want Mommy to be mad.””
Marcus kissed her forehead.
“Mommy isn't going to hurt you.””
He wanted to believe those words.
But he no longer knew what was true.
He carried Ava into the house and placed her on the living-room sofa.
“Stay here for a minute, baby.””
“Where are you going?””
“To make sure everything is okay.””
“Are you going to find Aunt Elizabeth?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Do you know her?””
Ava nodded.
“Sometimes she talks to me.””
His blood ran cold.
“What does she say?””
“She tells me stories.””
“Where?””
Ava pointed toward the hallway.
“Behind the books.””
Marcus looked toward the old nursery.
The white door.
The one Vanessa had always called a storage cupboard.
He crouched beside Ava.
“Does Mommy know?””
Ava nodded.
“She told me not to tell you.””
“Did Aunt Elizabeth ever tell you to go inside?””
“No.””
“Did she give you the rabbit?””
Ava hugged it tighter.
“She said it belonged to Sophie.””
Marcus looked at the stuffed animal.
There was something unusual about it.
A small silver tag had been sewn into one ear.
He turned it over.
Three initials were engraved on the back.
S.C.
Sophie Carter.
“Where did you get this, sweetheart?””
“Mommy gave it to me.””
“When?””
“On my birthday.””
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
His daughter's sixth birthday.
Vanessa had given Ava a large collection of presents that morning. He remembered the expensive dollhouse, the bicycle, and the pink rabbit.
He had thought it was just another toy.
But now he remembered Vanessa watching Ava open that particular present.
She hadn't smiled.
She had looked frightened.
Marcus stood.
“Daniel, do you know about the rabbit?””
There was a pause.
Then Daniel answered.
“Yes.””
“What is it?””
“It's not just a toy.””
Marcus examined the silver tag.
“What do you mean?””
“There's a memory card sewn inside it.””
Marcus looked down.
“What?””
“Elizabeth hid it there before the accident. She told me it contained evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
“Something that happened before you married Vanessa.””
Marcus glanced toward the hallway.
“Why would she give it to my daughter?””
“She didn't. Vanessa took it from Elizabeth.””
The front door suddenly opened.
Vanessa stepped inside.
Her emerald dress was wet at the hem. Her makeup had begun to run, but she had changed her expression.
She looked calm now.
Too calm.
“Marcus, we need to talk.””
“Not another word until you explain the rabbit.””
Vanessa's eyes dropped to Ava's hands.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“Marcus, that belongs to me.””
“According to Daniel, it belongs to Elizabeth.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“Daniel has always been obsessed with my sister.””
“Then perhaps you should explain why there is a memory card inside my daughter's birthday present.””
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely cornered.
She moved toward the sofa.
Ava immediately grabbed Marcus's hand.
“Mommy, please don't take it.””
Vanessa stopped.
Her face softened.
“Sweetheart, I only want to keep you safe.””
Ava shook her head.
“You said the bad man would come if Daddy found the rabbit.””
Marcus slowly turned toward Vanessa.
“What bad man?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“Who is coming?””
“Marcus, you need to stop asking questions.””
“No. I'm done stopping.””
He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed emergency services.
Vanessa lunged.
“Don't!””
He moved away.
“Hello? I need police assistance at my residence. There's a concealed underground room, a possible unlawfully detained person, and a child who may have been given unauthorized medication.””
Vanessa grabbed the back of a chair.
“Marcus, you don't understand what you're doing!””
“I understand enough.””
The operator asked for his address.
He gave it.
Then he looked toward the hallway.
A faint sound came from behind the bookshelves.
A click.
Marcus lowered the phone.
The white nursery door had opened by itself.
Ava whispered, “That's where she goes.””
He walked toward it.
“Marcus!”” Vanessa shouted.
He ignored her.
Behind the bookshelves was a narrow staircase leading downward. A strip of emergency lighting illuminated the first few steps.
He could smell damp concrete and something metallic.
“Elizabeth?””
A weak voice answered.
“Don't come down.””
“Why?””
“Because she's not the only one who knows about this place.””
Marcus turned.
Vanessa stood several feet behind him.
Her hands were clenched.
“Marcus, close that door.””
“Who else knows?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Then a car horn sounded outside.
Once.
Twice.
Daniel's voice came through the phone.
“Marcus, listen to me. Someone has arrived.””
Marcus looked through the front windows.
A black SUV had stopped outside the mansion.
A man in a dark suit stepped out.
He didn't ring the bell.
He didn't approach the front entrance.
He walked directly toward the side gate leading to the swimming pool.
Vanessa began shaking.
Marcus looked at her.
“Who is that?””
She whispered:
“The man Elizabeth was hiding from.””
And then Ava spoke from behind him.
“Daddy?””
He turned.
His daughter was holding the pink rabbit.
She had pulled something small from its ear.
A memory card.
But there was also a folded piece of paper.
Marcus opened it.
Four words were written in Elizabeth's handwriting.
THE DNA TEST IS FALSE.
He stared at the message.
Then the black SUV's driver opened the rear door.
A little girl stepped out.
She looked almost exactly like Ava.
Same blonde curls.
Same blue eyes.
Same small birthmark beneath her left ear.
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
May you like
Because the girl outside was wearing the same pink stuffed rabbit's matching bracelet.
And she was looking straight at him.
