Chapter 5 - THE MAN IN THE HOUSE
Daniel didn’t think.
He moved.
The moment Lily screamed, he ran.
The hidden room.
The metal door.
Vanessa.
Emma.
Everything disappeared.
Only his daughter mattered.
He rushed through the hallway.
“Lily!”
No answer.
His heart started pounding harder.
“LILY!”
Then he heard footsteps.
Someone running.
Daniel reached the staircase just in time.
A tall man wearing a black jacket pushed open the front door.
Daniel grabbed him.
“Who are you?”
The stranger fought back.
Daniel pushed him against the wall.
“Where is my daughter?”
The man said nothing.
That scared Daniel more than anything.
A guilty person would explain.
A liar would make excuses.
This man was silent.
Because he knew something.
Daniel tightened his grip.
“Where is she?”
Then a small voice came from behind him.
“Dad?”
Daniel turned.
Lily stood there.
Safe.
Holding her stuffed rabbit.
Daniel immediately ran to her.
He picked her up.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“But someone was looking for this.”
She held out a small envelope.
Daniel looked confused.
“What is that?”
Lily shook her head.
“He said it belonged to Mommy.”
Daniel slowly opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The handwriting was familiar.
Too familiar.
Sarah’s handwriting.
Daniel’s hands trembled.
He read the first line.
Daniel, if you are reading this, it means I failed to protect you.
His breathing stopped.
The letter continued.
Do not trust anyone who tells you I died by accident.
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Watching.
The color had disappeared from her face.
“Where did she get that?” Daniel asked.
Nobody answered.
The stranger suddenly laughed.
Daniel turned.
“You think you understand what’s happening?”
“Who sent you?”
The man smiled.
“Your father.”
Daniel froze.
“That’s impossible.”
The man looked around the mansion.
“You really believe death ends everything?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“My father has been dead for five years.”
The stranger smiled.
“Then why is he still paying people?”
The room became silent.
Daniel felt something break inside him.
His entire life was built on things he believed were true.
His father.
His marriage.
His wife’s death.
And now everything was falling apart.
Police sirens suddenly echoed outside.
The stranger looked toward the window.
“I have to go.”
Daniel grabbed him.
“You’re not leaving.”
The man pulled away.
Before running, he whispered:
“Ask Vanessa why your father kept a second set of records.”
Then he disappeared into the night.
Daniel stood frozen.
A second set of records.
Vanessa slowly looked at him.
“You should stop digging.”
Daniel turned.
“Or what?”
Her expression changed.
“Or you’ll find out why Sarah died.”
Daniel walked closer.
“No.”
His voice became cold.
“I’m going to find out who killed her.”
Then Lily screamed from the hallway.
“Dad!”
Daniel turned.
On the floor was another photograph.
A picture of Sarah.
Standing beside someone.
Someone Daniel never expected to see.
Himself.
But the date on the picture was impossible.
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It was taken after Sarah was supposed to be dead.
TO BE CONTINUED...
