Chapter 6: The Man in the Photograph
I couldn't process her words.
“That's impossible.””
My mother shook her head.
“I know what I saw.””
“Dad's body was identified.””
“Richard arranged everything.””
Officer Daniels opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was an old photograph.
It showed my father standing beside a black SUV outside a roadside motel.
The date printed in the corner was October 18.
One day after his supposed death.
I reached for the picture.
My father's face was unmistakable.
Same dark hair.
Same small scar above his left eyebrow.
Same watch I'd given him for his fiftieth birthday.
I felt my legs weaken.
“Where was this taken?””
My mother wiped her face.
“Outside a motel near Dayton.””
“Who took it?””
“Richard.””
“Why?””
“To prove Michael was still alive.””
I stared at her.
“Then why did everyone believe he died?””
She looked away.
“Because Richard told us he had disappeared.””
“Us?””
“Me. His business partners. Everyone.””
My hands began trembling.
“You knew Dad was alive?””
My mother didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered, “For three weeks.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
Three weeks.
My father had been alive somewhere while we buried an empty story.
I remembered Toby standing beside the casket, crying into his little suit jacket.
I remembered my mother holding my hand and telling me we had to be strong.
And Richard had stood beside her.
He had placed flowers on the casket.
He had accepted condolences.
He had helped us choose the headstone.
All while knowing my father might still be alive.
“Why didn't you tell us?””
My mother began crying again.
“Richard said Michael had become dangerous. He said your father had stolen money and was threatening everyone.””
“That's a lie.””
“He showed me documents.””
“Forged documents?””
“I don't know!””
I slammed my palm against the table.
“You never even tried to find him?””
My mother flinched.
“Richard told me Michael was dead by then.””
“Did you see a body?””
She shook her head.
“Then how could you believe him?””
She stared at the table.
“I was afraid.””
Officer Daniels took the photograph.
“Mrs. Parker, we need the complete timeline. Where did Richard take Michael?””
“I don't know.””
“Who was with him?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you communicate with your husband after October seventeenth?””
My mother hesitated.
Then she slowly reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed an old cellphone.
It was cracked across the screen.
“I kept this because Richard told me to destroy it.””
Daniels took it carefully.
“What's on it?””
“Messages from Michael.””
My heart started pounding.
“Messages?””
She nodded.
“He contacted me twice after the funeral.””
I stared at her.
“You received messages from Dad?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told us?””
“I thought Richard would hurt the children if I answered.””
“What did Dad say?””
She closed her eyes.
“He said he was coming home.””
My throat tightened.
“When?””
“October twenty-ninth.””
That was twelve days after the accident.
“What happened?””
My mother started shaking.
“Richard found out.””
“How?””
“He checked my phone. He saw the message. Then he told me Michael had betrayed us and that if I helped him, I would lose everything.””
I leaned forward.
“What did he do?””
“He drove away that night.””
“Where?””
She looked at Daniels.
“I don't know.””
Then she added something that made the officer's expression change.
“But he came back without his coat.””
Daniels immediately called another investigator.
I stared at my mother.
“Why would he come back without his coat?””
She looked at me.
“Because it was covered in blood.””
I covered my mouth.
“Whose blood?””
“I never asked.””
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the ventilation system.
Then Daniels stood.
“Mrs. Parker, you're going to accompany us to the station. We need to preserve that phone and obtain a full statement.””
My mother grabbed her handbag.
“Wait. I need to speak to Emily.””
“No,” I said.
She turned toward me.
“Please.””
I looked at her.
“You had six months to tell me the truth.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You left Toby to protect two babies from a blizzard.””
Her face crumpled.
I walked out.
Back at the hospital, Toby was awake.
He was sitting beside Leo's crib, carefully arranging the little blanket around his brother.
When I entered, he smiled weakly.
“Sissy, look. Leo opened his eyes.””
I rushed toward him.
The baby blinked slowly.
His tiny fingers moved.
I kissed his forehead.
“Hey, little man.””
Toby looked at me.
“Did you find out what happened to Dad?””
I sat beside him.
“Some of it.””
“Is he really dead?””
I couldn't answer.
Instead, I pulled out my phone and showed him the photograph.
His eyes widened.
“That's Dad!””
“I know.””
“He's alive?””
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
Toby studied the picture.
Then he pointed at something in the background.
“Sissy.””
“What?””
“Look at the window.””
I zoomed in.
Behind my father stood a man wearing a hospital uniform.
His face was partially hidden by the reflection.
But Toby recognized him.
“That's Mr. Richard's driver.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“How do you know?””
“He came to our house the night Dad disappeared.””
I stared at him.
“What did he do?””
Toby lowered his voice.
“He gave Mom a little white envelope.””
“What was inside?””
“I don't know. But Mom cried after she read it.””
I looked again at the photograph.
The driver wasn't simply standing in the background.
He was holding something.
A hospital identification bracelet.
And there was a name printed across it.
I zoomed in until the letters became visible.
*MICHAEL PARKER.*
Before I could speak, my phone rang.
Officer Daniels.
“Emily, we have a serious development.””
“What happened?””
“We checked the hospital records from the night your father supposedly died.””
“And?””
“There was no admission under Michael Parker's name.””
My heart began racing.
“Then who was in the ambulance?””
Daniels paused.
“We found the original emergency transport report. The patient was registered under a temporary identity.””
I gripped the phone.
“What identity?””
His answer made my blood run cold.
“An unidentified male, approximately your father's age, brought in from the same road where his car was found.””
I couldn't speak.
Then Daniels continued.
“Emily, there's another problem. We tracked Richard's driver to a storage facility outside Dayton.””
“What did you find?””
“A vehicle registered to your father.””
I closed my eyes.
“Was it abandoned?””
“No.””
“Then where is it?””
Daniels took a breath.
“Someone has been driving it regularly for the last six months.””
I stared at Toby.
He was holding Leo's tiny hand.
“Who?””
The officer answered quietly.
“Your father's old driver. And according to the security footage, he wasn't alone.””
“Who was with him?””
Daniels paused.
“Your mother.””
I felt the room spin.
Because my mother had just told the police she didn't know where my father was.
But six months after his supposed death, she had been visiting the one person who might know exactly where he had gone.
And then another message appeared on my phone.
An unknown number.
Emily, if you want your father alive, come to the old Parker warehouse alone. Don't tell the police. Richard knows what you found.
I read it twice.
May you like
Then a second message arrived.
Bring the blue key. Your father has been waiting for you.
