Chapter 4: The Voice in the Dark
The voice came through the phone again.
“But your son does.””
Dad released Mom’s arm.
“What did he just say?””
Mom stumbled backward.
“I don’t know.””
“You know exactly what he said.””
“I don't.””
Lily stopped the video.
Dad turned toward her.
“Play it again.””
She did.
The recording was only thirty seconds long, but the voice was unmistakable—male, low, and close to the camera.
“Your husband doesn't know what you did. But your son does.””
Then a sharp metallic sound.
A door opening.
Footsteps.
The recording ended.
Dad stared at Mom.
“Who was in this house?””
“No one.””
“Then whose voice was that?””
“I don't know.””
I looked at Lily.
“When did you record this?””
“Last night.””
“You said someone came into the house.””
“I heard the back door.””
Dad's expression changed.
“Did you see him?””
“Not his face.””
“Then how do you know it was a man?””
“I heard him.””
Mom grabbed the edge of the kitchen counter.
“John, please.””
Dad turned.
“Start talking.””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You've already accused our son of something he didn't do. You destroyed his reputation in this house. And now you're telling me some stranger came here last night?””
“I didn't accuse him.””
Chloe whispered, “Mom…”
Dad looked at her.
“You knew.””
Chloe began crying.
“I didn't know everything.””
“What did you know?””
“Nothing!””
Dad slammed his palm against the counter.
“Stop lying!””
The sound made Lily jump.
I pulled her closer.
Dad immediately noticed.
His voice softened.
“I'm sorry.””
Lily nodded.
Then she looked at Mom.
“I know who the man was.””
Mom's head snapped up.
“What?””
Lily unlocked her phone.
“He left something.””
She opened another photograph.
It showed a muddy footprint on the white tile near the back door.
Beside it was a small torn piece of blue fabric.
Dad stared.
“What is that?””
Lily zoomed in.
“It came off his jacket.””
Mom went completely still.
Chloe whispered, “Oh my God.””
I looked at her.
“You recognize it.””
“No.””
“You just said his name without saying his name.””
“I didn't.””
Dad stepped toward Chloe.
“Who was here?””
Chloe backed away.
“I don't know.””
Lily suddenly spoke.
“His name is Marcus.””
Mom closed her eyes.
Dad looked confused.
“Who is Marcus?””
Chloe started shaking.
Lily continued.
“I saw him once.””
“Where?””
“At the gas station.””
“Why does he matter?””
Lily looked at Mom.
“Because Mom gave him money.””
The silence afterward was enormous.
Dad slowly turned toward his wife.
“You paid someone?””
Mom's face crumpled.
“No.””
Lily held up another photograph.
A timestamp appeared in the corner.
12:19 a.m.
The image showed Mom standing beside a dark sedan in the driveway.
A man stood beside her.
His face was turned away.
But his blue jacket was clearly visible.
Dad stared at the photograph.
“Who is Marcus?””
Mom finally whispered:
“Someone from before you met me.””
Dad's eyes narrowed.
“Before me?””
She nodded.
“And he came back.””
“Why?””
Mom looked toward the staircase.
Then toward Chloe.
Then toward the front door Ethan had walked through hours earlier.
“He wants what I took from him.””
Dad's face hardened.
“What did you take?””
Mom didn't answer.
Lily stepped forward.
“I think Ethan knows.””
Dad looked at her.
“How?””
“Because last week I heard Ethan and Mom arguing.””
Mom's head lifted.
Lily continued.
“Ethan said, ‘If Dad finds out, you're going to lose everything.’”
Dad went silent.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID showed Ethan.
Dad answered.
“Ethan?””
For three seconds, there was only breathing.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Dad, listen carefully.””
Dad put the call on speaker.
Ethan's voice trembled.
“Do not let Mom leave the house.””
Mom covered her mouth.
Dad stared at her.
“Why?””
Ethan answered.
“Because she’s not the person you think she is.””
The line went dead.
May you like
And from upstairs came the unmistakable sound of a bedroom door opening.
Someone else was in the house.
