Chapter 8: The Truth Hidden in the Car
The police station was brighter than I expected.
I thought places where serious things happened would look dramatic.
Instead, it looked ordinary.
People walked around carrying papers.
Phones rang.
Printers made noises.
But my life had changed completely.
I sat beside Dad while Detective Harris placed a folder on the table.
“We found Vanessa’s vehicle abandoned.””
Dad leaned forward.
“Was she inside?””
“No.””
My heart raced.
“Is she missing?””
Detective Harris looked at me.
“Ethan, there are adults handling this.””
I looked away.
I was tired of adults saying that.
Adults had handled everything my entire life.
And somehow, I was always the one getting hurt.
Dad noticed my expression.
He reached over and squeezed my shoulder.
Detective Harris opened the folder.
“We found several items inside the vehicle.””
He placed photographs on the table.
The first showed documents.
The second showed a laptop.
The third showed an old notebook.
“What’s that?”” Dad asked.
“The notebook belonged to Daniel Reed.””
Dad stared.
“Vanessa’s first husband.””
Detective Harris nodded.
“He was investigating her before he disappeared.””
Dad looked through the photos.
Then suddenly stopped.
“What?””
He pointed.
“This handwriting.””
Detective Harris looked closer.
“What about it?””
“I’ve seen it before.””
Dad pulled out his phone.
He opened the picture of the threatening messages.
“The same person who sent these.””
My heart pounded.
“So Vanessa was sending the messages?””
Detective Harris shook his head.
“We don’t know yet.””
He turned the notebook around.
“Daniel wrote about someone else.””
Dad frowned.
“Someone else?””
“Yes.””
Detective Harris pointed at a name.
I watched Dad read it.
His face went pale.
“What is it?””
He didn’t answer.
“Dad?””
Finally, he whispered:
“Mark.””
Detective Harris nodded.
“Do you know him?””
Dad looked away.
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
Dad swallowed.
“He was my business partner.””
I stared.
“What?””
Dad had never mentioned a business partner.
Detective Harris continued.
“Daniel believed Mark was helping Vanessa move money.””
Dad stood up.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Mark died five years ago.””
The room became silent.
Detective Harris looked confused.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
Dad’s voice was shaking.
“I went to his funeral.””
The detective looked back at the notebook.
“Then someone is using his name.””
That sentence made everyone quiet.
Because suddenly the story became bigger than Vanessa.
Someone else was involved.
Someone who had been hiding for years.
On the way home, Dad barely spoke.
Finally, I asked:
“Did you trust Mark?””
Dad stared through the windshield.
“I did.””
“What happened?””
He sighed.
“He helped me start my company.””
“And then?””
“He betrayed me.””
I waited.
“He stole money from the company.””
I looked at him.
“Like Vanessa?””
Dad nodded slowly.
“The same pattern.””
That night, Dad checked the security cameras.
I watched him rewind the footage.
Then he stopped.
“What?””
He didn’t answer.
I walked closer.
On the screen was our house.
And Vanessa.
Standing outside.
She wasn’t alone.
A man stood beside her.
Dad stepped closer to the screen.
The color drained from his face.
“Who is that?”” I asked.
Dad whispered one word.
“Mark.””
I stared.
“That’s impossible.””
Dad didn’t move.
Because the man on the screen was alive.
May you like
And he was looking directly into the camera.
As if he knew we were watching.
