Chapter 4: The Photograph
The photograph on my phone blurred as my eyes filled with tears.
Lily was standing outside her school with her pink backpack hanging from one shoulder, one hand gripping the strap, the other holding her teacher's hand.
Someone had been watching her.
Someone had been close enough to photograph her face.
Daniel took the phone from me.
“When was this taken?””
“This morning.””
His thumb moved across the screen.
“No location data.””
“Can you trace the number?””
“I'll try.””
Eleanor stepped closer.
“Don't reply.””
Daniel looked at her.
“I wasn't planning to.””
“You need to understand what this means.””
“I understand.””
“No, you don't,” Eleanor said.
“They've stopped threatening you.””
She pointed at my phone.
“They're threatening Claire.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“I'm going to get Lily.””
“I'll come with you.””
“No.””
I stared at him.
“Excuse me?””
“You stay here.””
“You just told me someone photographed our daughter.””
“That's why you stay here.””
“I'm her mother.””
“I know.””
“Then don't tell me to hide while you go get her.””
He opened his mouth.
I stepped closer.
“If someone is watching Lily, I'm not sitting in this house waiting for you to decide what I deserve to know.””
Eleanor nodded slowly.
“She should come.””
Daniel looked furious.
“Eleanor—”
“She's already involved,” Eleanor said.
“Whether you like it or not.””
Ten minutes later, we were in Daniel's SUV.
I sat in the back with my phone in my hand.
Daniel drove too fast.
Eleanor sat beside him, watching the mirrors.
“Three cars,” she said.
Daniel glanced at the rearview mirror.
“Which one?””
“The silver sedan.””
I looked behind us.
A silver sedan was several car lengths back.
My stomach tightened.
“Is that them?””
“I don't know,” Daniel said.
“Then why are we stopping?””
“We aren't.””
He turned sharply onto a side road.
The sedan continued straight.
Eleanor exhaled.
“Probably nothing.””
Daniel didn't respond.
When we reached Lily's school, the parking lot was almost empty.
Daniel jumped out before the SUV fully stopped.
I followed.
He pushed through the front doors.
“Where's my daughter?””
The receptionist stood.
“Mr. Mercer?””
“Lily Mercer. Where is she?””
“She left with her teacher.””
“Which teacher?””
“Mrs. Hall.””
“Where?””
The woman frowned.
“She said she was taking Lily to the side entrance.””
My heart stopped.
“What side entrance?””
The receptionist pointed toward the hallway.
Daniel ran.
We followed.
At the end of the corridor, a door stood open.
Outside, Mrs. Hall was crouched beside Lily.
Lily looked frightened.
“Mommy!””
I ran to her.
She threw herself into my arms.
I held her so tightly she squeaked.
“What happened?””
Mrs. Hall looked pale.
“She said she saw someone outside the fence.””
Daniel crouched.
“Who?””
“I don't know,” Mrs. Hall said.
“A man.””
“What did he look like?””
“Baseball cap. Dark jacket.””
“Did he speak to Lily?””
Mrs. Hall shook her head.
“No. But Lily said he waved.””
Daniel's face went rigid.
Lily pressed her cheek against my shoulder.
“He had Daddy's car.””
I froze.
“What?””
Daniel stared at her.
“What car?””
She pointed toward the street.
“The black one.””
Daniel looked at me.
His SUV was black.
But there were dozens of black SUVs in Virginia.
“Did you see the license plate?”” he asked.
Lily shook her head.
Then she whispered, “He had the same sticker.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“What sticker?””
“The little gold bird.””
Eleanor inhaled sharply.
I looked at her.
“What?””
She stared at Daniel.
“Your father used to put those on every company vehicle.””
Daniel slowly stood.
“That's impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because nobody uses them anymore.””
Eleanor's voice dropped.
“Someone does.””
Daniel took my hand.
“We're leaving.””
As we hurried toward the SUV, Lily looked up at me.
“Mommy?””
“Yes?””
“Can I tell you something?””
“Anything.””
She hesitated.
“Aunt Celia told me not to tell you.””
Daniel stopped walking.
“Tell us.””
Lily looked at him.
“She said Daddy doesn't want Mommy to know about the room.””
“What room?”” I asked.
Daniel went completely still.
Lily continued.
“The room under the stairs.””
I looked at my husband.
“What room under the stairs?””
Daniel's lips parted.
“I don't know.””
Lily frowned.
“Yes, you do.””
“Lily—”
“You took me there.””
My blood ran cold.
“When?””
She looked at him with complete innocence.
“Last Christmas.””
Daniel stared at his daughter.
“I never took you anywhere under the stairs.””
Lily's face changed.
She looked confused.
Then afraid.
“You did.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No, sweetheart.””
She began to cry.
“You said I couldn't tell Mommy.””
I pulled her against me.
Daniel looked toward the house across the street.
Eleanor whispered something I almost didn't hear.
“Someone has been inside your memories.””
I turned.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Daniel.
“Ask him who had access to Lily last Christmas.””
Daniel didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
The call was from his home security company.
He answered.
“Daniel Mercer.””
A man's voice spoke rapidly on the other end.
Daniel's face drained of color.
“What do you mean the camera went offline?””
He listened.
“When?””
Another pause.
“Thirty-six minutes ago.””
He looked at me.
The phone slipped slightly from his hand.
“What happened?”” I asked.
May you like
He swallowed.
“Someone entered the house.””
