Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED
I called Rachel immediately.
She answered on the first ring.
“Tell me you found something.”
I couldn’t even speak for a second.
Then I said:
“They’re planning an accident.”
Silence.
“What?”
I read the message.
Rachel’s voice changed.
“Cullen, where is Mireya?”
My heart stopped.
I looked toward the stairs.
“Mireya?”
No answer.
I ran upstairs.
Her room was empty.
The window was open.
My breathing became heavy.
“Mireya!”
I searched the entire house.
Nothing.
Then I saw the front door.
Open.
I ran outside.
“MIREYA!”
The street was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then I heard something.
A small voice.
“Daddy?”
I turned.
And there she was.
Standing near the sidewalk.
With tears on her face.
I ran to her.
“Sweetheart!”
I grabbed her.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
But she was shaking.
“Where were you?”
She pointed toward the garage.
“Tove told me to wait there.”
My heart froze.
“Why?”
“She said you wanted to talk to me.”
I looked toward the garage.
The door was open.
Something was wrong.
I walked inside.
And immediately smelled it.
Gas.
I stepped back.
“Mireya, get outside.”
I grabbed my phone.
Called emergency services.
Within minutes, the entire street was filled with lights.
Police.
Firefighters.
Neighbors watching.
And then…
Tove arrived.
She looked shocked.
“What happened?”
I stared at her.
Because she had the perfect expression.
The perfect reaction.
Almost too perfect.
A police officer walked toward us.
“Mr. Cullen?”
“Yes?”
“We need to ask you some questions.”
“Of course.”
The officer looked serious.
“Your wife says you and your daughter were arguing tonight.”
I froze.
“What?”
Tove stepped forward.
“I was worried about him.”
I looked at her.
“You’re lying.”
The officer raised a hand.
“Let’s all stay calm.”
But then another officer approached.
Holding a small plastic bag.
Inside was a piece of paper.
“Sir…”
He looked at me.
“We found this inside the garage.”
My stomach tightened.
“What is it?”
The officer unfolded it.
Then his face changed.
“Your name is written on it.”
I stepped closer.
And when I saw the handwriting…
My blood turned cold.
Because it wasn’t Tove’s handwriting.
May you like
It wasn’t Daniel’s.
It was mine.
