Chapter 9: The Secret Maya Was Hiding
The photo was blurry.
But there was no mistake.
It was Maya.
Standing in our living room.
Three days before my trip.
She was holding a piece of paper.
Someone had taken the picture from inside our home.
I felt a wave of anger.
“They were watching you.””
Maya looked terrified.
“I didn’t know.””
I believed her.
But there was something else.
Something in her expression.
A hesitation.
“Maya.””
She looked at me.
“What?””
“You know what’s on that paper.””
Her eyes moved away.
That was all the answer I needed.
“Maya.””
She took a shaky breath.
“I didn’t want to tell you until I understood it.””
“What is it?””
She looked down.
“A letter.””
“From who?””
“My father.””
I froze.
“Your father?””
She nodded slowly.
“He died when I was young. But before he passed, he left something with my mother.””
I sat there silently.
“Why would your father write me a letter?””
“He didn’t.””
She swallowed.
“He wrote one to your father.””
The room seemed to spin.
“What?””
Maya wiped her eyes.
“I found it while looking through old family documents.””
“When?””
“Months ago.””
I stared at her.
“Months?””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“That it would hurt you.””
I stood and walked away.
Not because I was angry at her.
Because I was overwhelmed.
“My whole life is secrets.””
Maya’s voice cracked.
“I’m sorry.””
I turned around.
“No.””
I softened.
“I’m not angry at you.””
She looked relieved for half a second.
Then she whispered:
“But the letter mentioned your mother.””
My chest tightened.
“What did it say?””
Maya looked toward the window.
“It said Evelyn knew the truth.””
“The truth about my father?””
“Yes.””
I sat down.
“Where is the letter?””
“At home.””
“We need to get it.””
Maya grabbed my hand.
“Caleb.””
“What?””
“I think someone already knows about it.””
Before I could answer, someone knocked on the hospital door.
A nurse entered.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Yes?””
“This was delivered for you.””
She handed me a small envelope.
No name.
No return address.
My stomach turned.
I opened it.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Three words were written.
*Ask your wife.*
I looked at Maya.
Then I saw something else inside the envelope.
A photograph.
Not of Maya.
Not of my mother.
Of my father.
And beside him was the same man from Thomas Reed’s photograph.
But this time, there was one more person.
Someone I never expected to see.
Someone who changed everything.
May you like
Because standing beside my father and Thomas was a younger version of…
Detective Harris.
