Chapter 7: The Girl Nobody Found
I read the message again.
“Ask Vanessa why Olivia was never found.””
For a few seconds, I forgot how to breathe.
The room around me disappeared.
All I could see was that sentence.
Olivia was never found.
I looked at Detective Harris.
“What does that mean?””
She didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more than anything.
“Detective?””
She sat down slowly.
“Daniel, there are details about Olivia’s case that were never made public.””
My hands tightened around the letter.
“Tell me.””
She looked toward Lily.
Then back at me.
“Olivia wasn’t just removed from Vanessa’s home.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“She was placed temporarily with a relative while investigators reviewed the situation.””
“And then?””
Detective Harris opened another file.
“Three days later, Olivia disappeared.””
The silence felt unbearable.
I looked at Vanessa through the glass.
She was sitting there with her arms crossed.
Like she was waiting for this nightmare to end.
“She knew where Olivia went,” I whispered.
Detective Harris didn’t respond.
But her expression told me enough.
“We don’t know what Vanessa knew,” she said carefully.
“But you suspect her.””
“We suspect everyone connected to the case.””
I looked down at Lily.
My daughter was drawing on a piece of paper the officer gave her.
A picture of three people holding hands.
Me.
Her.
And her mother.
Not Vanessa.
My chest tightened.
“Why did nobody tell me before I brought her into my home?””
Detective Harris sighed.
“Because Vanessa changed her name after that case.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She legally changed several personal details after leaving that relationship.””
I stood up.
“She hid this.””
“Yes.””
I walked toward the observation window.
Vanessa immediately looked up.
Our eyes met.
For once, she didn’t look confident.
She looked desperate.
The door opened.
“Daniel.””
I turned.
Vanessa stood there with an officer beside her.
“I need to talk to you.””
I stared at her.
“You need to tell me the truth.””
She swallowed.
“I made mistakes.””
I shook my head.
“No more excuses.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
She looked down.
“Of losing everything.””
I almost laughed.
“You were afraid of losing everything?””
I pointed toward Lily.
“You were willing to destroy her life to protect yours.””
“That’s not what happened.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
She was silent.
Finally, she whispered.
“Olivia was angry at me.””
I stared at her.
“A child was angry at you?””
“She hated me.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Because I tried to set rules.””
I felt a cold wave move through me.
“Rules?””
“Yes.””
“Like the ones you gave Lily?””
Her face changed.
“You don’t understand.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“I understand enough.””
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Daniel, if you walk away from me now, you’re making the same mistake everyone else made.””
I looked at her.
“What mistake?””
“Believing children over adults.””
My heart stopped.
Because she actually said it.
Out loud.
She actually believed it.
I turned away.
That was when my phone rang.
Michael.
I answered.
“Did you find something?””
His voice was urgent.
“Daniel, I searched through old records.””
“And?””
“There’s something strange.””
“What?””
“There was another person connected to Olivia’s disappearance.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Who?””
Michael hesitated.
“Vanessa’s sister.””
I frowned.
“Her sister?””
“Her name is Claire.””
I felt confused.
“Why haven’t I heard about her?””
“Because Claire vanished too.””
The room went silent.
“What do you mean vanished?””
Michael lowered his voice.
“Daniel, I think Vanessa wasn’t the only secret in that family.””
I looked back at Vanessa.
She was watching me.
And when I said the name Claire…
Her face completely changed.
She knew.
May you like
She knew exactly who Claire was.
And she was terrified.
