Chapter 12: The Person Watching Us
I couldn’t move.
I stared at the picture.
Lily.
Standing outside the station.
Holding Michael’s hand.
Someone had been watching her.
Someone close enough to take a photo.
My first thought wasn’t anger.
It was fear.
A father’s worst fear.
The fear that someone could reach his child.
I showed Detective Harris.
Her expression immediately changed.
“Who took this?””
“I don’t know.””
She called for officers.
“Lock down the building.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was staring at the picture.
Her face had gone completely pale.
“You know who this is.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Don’t lie.””
“I don’t know.””
Her voice cracked.
“But I know who it reminds me of.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the window.
“My father’s closest friend.””
Detective Harris turned.
“Name.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Richard Hale.””
She wrote it down.
“Where is he?””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“He disappeared after my father died.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“How many secrets have you been hiding?””
She closed her eyes.
“Too many.””
The words were almost a whisper.
An officer entered.
“Detective, we checked the cameras.””
Everyone turned.
“And?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“The person who took the photo was inside the station.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
He showed us the security image.
A man walking through the hallway.
Hat.
Dark jacket.
Face partially hidden.
But Vanessa recognized him.
She stepped backward.
“No.””
Detective Harris looked at her.
“Who is it?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Richard.””
The room exploded into action.
Officers moved immediately.
I barely heard anything.
Because one thought consumed me.
Lily.
I ran toward the exit.
When I reached the waiting room, Michael was standing there.
Without Lily.
My heart dropped.
“Where is she?””
His face changed.
“What?””
“Where is Lily?””
“She was right here.””
The world stopped.
“Michael.””
“I only looked away for a second.””
I grabbed my phone.
No messages.
No calls.
Nothing.
Then I saw something on the chair.
Lily’s stuffed rabbit.
My knees almost gave out.
Detective Harris ran over.
“What happened?””
I picked up the rabbit.
“She’s gone.””
Everyone froze.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered immediately.
A voice spoke.
Not Richard.
Not Vanessa.
A child.
“Daddy?””
My heart stopped.
“Lily?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Daddy, I’m sorry.””
“Where are you?””
“I didn’t mean to leave.””
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Someone told me Mommy wanted to see me.””
My blood went cold.
“Lily, listen to me. Stay where you are.””
“I tried.””
Her voice cracked.
“But Vanessa’s friend found me.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She covered her mouth.
“No…”
“Who is with you?”” I asked.
Silence.
Then Lily whispered:
“He said he knew where Olivia was.””
The call suddenly became muffled.
I heard a man’s voice.
Calm.
Cold.
“You should have listened when I warned you.””
The line stayed open.
I heard Lily crying.
Then the man said:
May you like
“Now you’re going to learn why Vanessa was never the real danger.””
The call ended.
