Chapter 4: The Woman in the Photograph
Dad locked the front door before sunrise.
Then he locked it again.
I watched him test the deadbolt twice, his hand lingering on the brass handle as if he expected someone to try it.
“Dad,” I said, “who would want me out of the house?””
He looked at me.
“I don't know.””
“You keep saying that.””
“I know.””
“Then find out.””
His jaw tightened.
“I will.””
Vanessa stood at the kitchen island, pale and exhausted. Her phone sat face down beside her untouched coffee.
Tyler and Brandon hadn't come downstairs.
For once, the house was completely quiet.
Dad placed the custody papers into a folder.
“I'm taking these to an attorney.””
“Can I come?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I need to know what we're dealing with before I put you in the middle of it.””
I stared at him.
“I've been in the middle of it my whole life.””
He didn't have an answer.
I pulled out a chair.
“Then tell me about my mother.””
Dad looked at Vanessa.
She immediately shook her head.
“Marcus—”
“No,” I said.
“Don't do that.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Do what?””
“Tell me I'm too young. Tell me it's complicated. Tell me my mom loved me and that's all I need to know.””
My voice trembled.
“I've heard that my whole life.””
Dad sat across from me.
He looked older than he had the night before.
“Your mother had a brother.””
“Daniel.””
“Yes.””
“What happened to him?””
Dad rubbed his palms together.
“He disappeared.””
“From where?””
“From your mother's life.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
He sighed.
“Your mother told me Daniel had gotten into trouble. She said he was unstable and dangerous.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“She didn't say that.””
Dad turned.
“What?””
“She said he was trying to help her.””
The silence that followed was enormous.
Dad slowly stood.
“You told me he was dangerous.””
“I said that's what I believed.””
“You let me believe it for eight years.””
Vanessa looked down.
“I was wrong.””
I pushed my chair back.
“Then what was my mother running from?””
Neither of them answered.
I stood.
“I'm going to school.””
Dad immediately shook his head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever sent those messages knows where you are.””
“Then I'll stay home and hide?””
“Maya—”
“I can't keep living like this.””
I grabbed my backpack.
Dad caught my wrist gently.
“Wait.””
His phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
One message.
*Ask Vanessa why your mother changed her will.*
Dad's face drained of color.
I pulled my wrist free.
“What does that mean?””
He stared at the message.
Then at Vanessa.
She whispered, “Oh God.””
“What will?””
Dad looked at me.
“Your mother had a will?””
“Yes.””
“Who inherited?””
He didn't answer.
“Dad.””
He finally said, “You did.””
My heart stopped.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
“So what's the problem?””
Dad looked toward the folder containing the custody papers.
“According to your mother's original will, everything she owned was supposed to be placed in a trust for you when you turned eighteen.””
I frowned.
“How much?””
He hesitated.
“I don't know exactly.””
“Dad.””
“Your mother owned a small property in Florida.””
The word Florida hit me.
“Miami?””
He nodded.
“Where?””
“Coral Gables.””
I stared at him.
“My mom took me there once.””
“I know.””
“She said we'd come back.””
Dad's eyes filled with tears.
“She was talking about that property.””
I couldn't speak.
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Marcus, we have to tell her.””
Dad looked at her.
“Tell me what?””
Vanessa walked toward the hallway.
“I need to show you something.””
She stopped beside an old cabinet.
She opened the bottom drawer.
Inside were photographs.
Dozens of them.
She pulled out one.
It showed my mother standing beside a man I'd never seen.
He had dark hair, a crooked smile, and one hand resting protectively on her shoulder.
My mother looked younger.
Happy.
On the back was handwritten:
*Lena and Daniel — Coral Gables, 2007.*
I stared at it.
“That's him?””
Vanessa nodded.
“My uncle?””
“Yes.””
“Why have I never seen this?””
“Because your mother didn't want you to.””
I turned toward Dad.
“Why?””
Before he could answer, something fell from the photograph.
A small folded piece of paper.
I picked it up.
There were only four words.
*He knows about the house.*
Dad grabbed the paper.
“Where did you get this?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“It was behind the picture.””
“No. Where did you get the photograph?””
She hesitated.
“Your mother gave it to me.””
“When?””
“Two days before she died.””
Dad's eyes widened.
“You never told me that.””
“She made me promise.””
“Promise what?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“To keep Maya away from Daniel.””
I felt my stomach twist.
“Why?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Because your mother believed he would come back for you.””
“Come back for me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She whispered, “Because Daniel believed you belonged with him.””
Dad's phone buzzed again.
Another unknown number.
This time, there was a photograph attached.
Dad opened it.
I stepped closer.
It was a picture of our house.
Taken from across the street.
Taken that morning.
My bedroom window was visible.
Someone had circled it in red.
Underneath was a message.
*She's looking in the wrong direction.*
Dad immediately pulled me behind him.
Vanessa gasped.
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
Dad answered.
“Who is this?””
A man's voice came through the speaker.
Calm.
Deep.
Familiar.
“Marcus.””
Dad froze.
The caller continued.
“You've spent eight years protecting Maya from the wrong person.””
Dad's face turned white.
“Daniel?””
The man laughed softly.
“No.””
May you like
A pause.
“Daniel is dead.””
