Chapter 7: The Message From My Father
For almost a full minute, I couldn't move.
The phone felt impossibly heavy in my hand.
Bring the blue key. Your father has been waiting for you.
I read the message again.
Then I looked at Toby.
He was gently stroking Leo's tiny fingers, completely unaware that the nightmare surrounding our family had just become even worse.
I stepped into the hallway and called Officer Daniels.
He answered immediately.
“Emily?””
“Someone just contacted me.””
“Who?””
“I don't know. They're claiming my father is alive.””
There was silence.
“Where are you?””
“At the hospital.””
“Good. Stay there.””
I read him the message.
When I finished, he spoke carefully.
“Do not go anywhere. Do not respond. We're going to trace the number.””
“But what if it's really Dad?””
“Emily, I understand what you're thinking. But whoever sent that message knows about the blue key. That information is connected to an active investigation.””
“What if they're holding him somewhere?””
“We'll find out. But you are not going alone.””
I looked through the glass at Toby.
“There's something else. The message says Dad has been waiting for me.””
Daniels exhaled.
“Then we need to establish who sent it.””
Twenty minutes later, two detectives arrived at the hospital.
They examined my phone and began working with the digital investigation team.
One of them, Detective Harris, sat across from me.
“Has anyone outside your family known about the blue key?””
“No. Toby found it after Dad died. We only told you.””
“Did your mother know?””
I thought about it.
“Possibly. She was the one who packed Dad's belongings.””
Harris nodded.
“And the warehouse?””
“It's an old property my father owned. He used to store construction equipment there.””
“Do you know whether Richard had access?””
“Yes. He handled some of Dad's business paperwork.””
The detective wrote something down.
“Can you tell me about your father's relationship with Richard before the accident?””
I rubbed my forehead.
“They were business partners at first. Dad helped him with accounting. Then, about eight months before Dad supposedly died, they started arguing.””
“About money?””
“I think so. Dad stopped trusting him.””
“Did your father ever mention another person?””
I hesitated.
Then I remembered something.
“There was a woman who called our house several times. Dad always took those calls outside.””
“Do you know her name?””
“Margaret. I think her last name was Collins.””
Harris looked up.
“Margaret Collins?””
“Yes.””
He exchanged a glance with the other detective.
“What?””
“We found her name in the financial records recovered from your father's basement.””
My stomach tightened.
“What was she doing in those records?””
“She was listed as an employee of Hale Property Development.””
That was strange.
Margaret had never worked for Richard, at least not according to anything I knew.
Before I could ask another question, my phone vibrated.
Another message.
Tell Toby I still remember the fishing trip.
My breath caught.
I showed Harris.
He read it carefully.
“Did you and your father go fishing?””
I nodded.
“Every summer.””
“Was there anything unusual about those trips?””
I remembered one particular afternoon.
Dad had taken Toby and me to a small lake outside town. He'd let Toby hold the fishing rod while he taught me how to tie a knot.
Before we left, he'd made us promise something.
“If you ever get separated from me,” he'd said, “remember that the truth doesn't disappear just because someone hides it.””
I had laughed.
I thought it was one of his strange fatherly speeches.
Now I wasn't laughing.
The detective asked me to describe the trip.
I told him everything.
Then Toby appeared in the doorway.
“Sissy?””
I immediately stood.
“What's wrong?””
He looked at my phone.
“Did Dad send you a message?””
I froze.
“How did you know?””
Toby approached slowly.
“Because he said he would.””
I crouched in front of him.
“What do you mean?””
Toby looked down at his shoes.
“Before he died, Dad told me that if something happened, I should wait for a message about the fishing trip.””
My heart began pounding.
“What exactly did he say?””
“He said, 'If anyone tells you I'm gone, don't believe them until you see the little silver boat.''”
I stared at him.
“The silver boat?””
Toby nodded.
“Dad had one in the warehouse. He said it was our secret.””
Detective Harris immediately picked up his phone.
“Get me the address of the Parker warehouse.””
I gave it to him.
He made a call and requested surveillance.
But before he could finish, another message appeared.
This time, there was a photograph.
A small silver toy boat sat on a wooden table.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
*Emily, I know you're scared. I am too. But I need you to find the truth.*
My eyes filled with tears.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
It was my father's.
Then I noticed something in the background of the photograph.
A hospital blanket.
And a wrist with a medical identification band.
I zoomed in.
The name was partially visible.
MICHAEL.
I looked at Detective Harris.
“That's him.””
He studied the photograph.
“Maybe.””
“No. That's my father's handwriting.””
The detective turned toward the other officer.
“Get a team to the warehouse. Quietly.””
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered before anyone could stop me.
“Dad?””
A man's voice came through.
Weak.
Familiar.
“Emily?””
My knees nearly collapsed.
“Dad?””
“Sweetheart, listen to me.””
I started crying.
“Where are you? Are you alive?””
“I don't have much time.””
“Dad, we're coming to get you.””
“No. Don't bring the police yet.””
Detective Harris raised his hand, signaling me to keep talking.
My father whispered something.
“Richard knows about the photograph.””
“What photograph?””
“The one showing who was in the car that night.””
I covered my mouth.
Then his voice became urgent.
“Emily, your mother wasn't the only person who helped him.””
I froze.
“Who else?””
There was a sudden noise.
A door slammed.
My father's breathing quickened.
“It's Margaret. She was there when—”
The call abruptly ended.
I stared at my phone.
May you like
Then a final message appeared.
He's been moved. You have one hour.
