Chapter 7: The Threat Against My Daughter
"Nobody leaves this house alone.""
My father's voice cut through the silence.
He stood in the doorway, staring at the threatening message on his phone.
*STOP LOOKING FOR YOUR WIFE. THE NEXT PERSON WHO DISAPPEARS WILL BE YOUR DAUGHTER.*
Daniel immediately took the phone from him.
"Don't respond. We need to preserve this message.""
Dad looked toward me.
I was standing beside the kitchen counter, still wearing my broken sneakers.
He crouched and held my shoulders.
"Lily, I need you to listen carefully. You're going to stay with me, okay?""
I nodded.
"Are you going to find Mommy?""
His eyes softened.
"I'm going to try, sweetheart.""
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Get someone here. Security, police, whoever you need.""
Daniel made two calls.
Within twenty minutes, two officers arrived at the house. They photographed the threatening message and collected the hospital documents. One officer asked Dad whether he suspected anyone.
Dad didn't hesitate.
"Robert Evans. My wife's former business partner and my current wife's brother.""
The officer wrote down the name.
"Do you have evidence connecting him to the threat?""
Daniel handed over the financial documents and the altered hospital authorization.
"We have evidence of suspected financial fraud, identity manipulation, and possible interference with medical treatment. We also have a direct threat against a seven-year-old child.""
The officer nodded.
"We'll investigate immediately.""
While they spoke, Vanessa sat on the living room sofa.
Her mascara had run down her cheeks.
She looked smaller than I had ever seen her.
When Dad approached, she stood.
"Marcus, please. I can explain everything.""
He didn't look at her.
"You have one opportunity to tell the police the truth.""
"I was trying to protect my children.""
"What about Lily?""
Vanessa looked toward me.
"I didn't know Robert would go this far.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"You knew enough to steal from her.""
"I never wanted to hurt her!""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Then why didn't you buy me shoes?""
She froze.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then she looked away.
Dad placed a hand on my shoulder.
"That's a question you should have answered a long time ago.""
Vanessa started crying again.
"I was angry, Lily.""
"Because I was Mommy's daughter?""
Her lips trembled.
She didn't answer.
That silence told me more than any explanation could.
Later that evening, Daniel arranged for me to stay temporarily with my father's sister, Aunt Rachel, while the police secured the house.
Dad refused to send me anywhere without him.
"I'll stay with Lily," he told Daniel.
"Marcus, you need to meet Patricia tomorrow. We have to establish where Sarah was transferred.""
"I can do both.""
Daniel sighed.
"You're not going to solve this by refusing to sleep.""
Dad almost smiled.
"Watch me.""
Before we left, I went upstairs to collect my stuffed rabbit.
When I returned, Vanessa was standing near the staircase.
She held a small white box.
"Lily.""
I stopped.
"What?""
She extended it toward me.
"I bought these for you.""
Inside was a brand-new pair of white sneakers.
They were expensive.
Much more expensive than the blue $24 shoes I'd wanted.
I stared at them.
"Why?""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"Because I should have bought them before.""
I didn't take the box.
"Will you throw them away if Daddy leaves?""
Her hand dropped.
Dad appeared behind me.
"She doesn't have to accept anything from you.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"Marcus, I'm still their mother.""
"No. You're their stepmother. And you've forgotten what that responsibility means.""
The police escorted Vanessa out of the house for questioning.
As she passed me, she whispered:
"Your mother made everyone believe she was innocent.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Enough.""
The door closed.
For the first time in three years, I slept without worrying about footsteps outside my bedroom.
But Dad didn't sleep.
At 2:17 a.m., I woke up and found him sitting at the dining table, examining the photograph of Rebecca.
"Daddy?""
He looked up.
"Why are you awake, princess?""
"Are you thinking about Mommy?""
He pulled out the chair beside him.
"Every minute.""
I climbed onto his lap.
He showed me the photograph.
"Do you remember this woman?""
I studied her face.
"She looks like Mommy.""
"That's her twin sister.""
"Does she love Mommy?""
Dad nodded.
"I think she does.""
Then his phone rang.
It was a number he didn't recognize.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice whispered:
"Marcus?""
He stood so quickly that the chair fell backward.
"Who is this?""
"It's Rebecca.""
Dad gripped the edge of the table.
"Where are you?""
"Listen to me. I don't have much time.""
"Is Sarah alive?""
A long silence followed.
Then Rebecca spoke.
"Yes.""
Dad covered his mouth.
I began crying.
"Mommy's alive?""
Dad held me tightly.
Rebecca continued.
"She's been alive all this time. But Robert knows you've found the records.""
Dad's voice cracked.
"Tell me where she is.""
"I'll send you an address. But Marcus, there's something you need to know.""
"What?""
"Sarah doesn't remember everything that happened before she disappeared.""
Dad frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Rebecca whispered:
"She lost her memory after the hospital incident. And the last thing she remembers about that night is Vanessa standing beside her bed.""
The call suddenly disconnected.
Seconds later, Dad received a location.
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And underneath it was one final message.
*COME ALONE. SARAH HAS BEEN ASKING FOR LILY.*
