Chapter 12: The Night He Came Back
The police arrived within minutes.
But Mark was already gone.
Or at least, that was what everyone thought.
Detective Harris ordered officers to surround the house.
Dad locked every door.
Every window.
For the first time, I understood why he installed cameras.
Not because he was paranoid.
Because he had sensed danger before anyone else.
I sat in the living room while Dad checked every camera feed.
“Do you see him?””
“No.””
“Then how did he take the picture?””
Dad didn’t answer.
Because that was the question terrifying everyone.
Someone had been close enough to our home to take a photo.
And we never noticed.
Around midnight, the power went out.
The entire house went dark.
I heard Dad immediately move.
“Ethan, stay here.””
I grabbed his arm.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“You need to listen.””
“I’m not hiding while everyone else handles my life.””
For a moment, he didn’t speak.
Then he nodded.
“Stay behind me.””
We walked through the darkness.
The only light came from Dad’s phone.
Then we heard something.
A sound from upstairs.
A door opening.
Dad froze.
Someone was inside.
Detective Harris whispered into his radio.
“Movement upstairs.””
The officers moved quietly.
Then a voice echoed through the hallway.
“Michael.””
Dad stopped.
Mark.
He was standing at the top of the stairs.
Older than the man in the photographs.
But definitely alive.
“You ruined everything,” Mark said.
Dad stared.
“You ruined your own life.””
Mark smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
The officers pointed their weapons.
“Don’t move.””
Mark laughed.
“You think this ends with me?””
Nobody moved.
“What does that mean?”” Detective Harris asked.
Mark looked at me.
“The boy has no idea.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Leave him alone.””
Mark smiled.
“Your mother said the same thing.””
My heart stopped.
“You knew my mom?””
Mark looked at me.
“Yes.””
“How?””
He walked down one step.
“Because she was the only person who almost stopped me.””
Dad’s voice became dangerous.
“What did you do to her?””
Mark looked at him.
“I didn’t kill her.””
Nobody breathed.
“But I know who did.””
The words hit like a storm.
Dad went completely still.
“What?””
Mark continued.
“Your wife found the evidence. She was going to expose everyone.””
“Who?””
Mark smiled.
Then he looked directly at Vanessa.
Everyone turned.
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“No.””
Dad looked confused.
“What?””
Mark laughed.
“She never told you.””
Vanessa stepped back.
“Don’t.””
“You want the truth?””
Mark looked at me.
“Your mother didn’t die because of an accident.””
Dad’s face changed.
“No.””
Mark nodded.
“She was murdered.””
The room exploded into silence.
I couldn’t move.
Couldn’t speak.
Dad looked like the ground had disappeared beneath him.
“Who did it?””
Mark opened his mouth.
But before he answered, the lights suddenly came back on.
And Mark was gone.
The officers rushed upstairs.
A window was open.
Cold air blew through the room.
On the floor was a single piece of paper.
Dad picked it up.
His hands shook as he read it.
Then he handed it to Detective Harris.
May you like
Three words were written.
*“Ask Vanessa why.””*
