Chapter 6: The Truth About Noah
The sentence stayed between us.
The reason everything started.
I stared at Marcus.
“What does that mean?””
He looked over his shoulder toward the street.
The confidence he usually carried was gone.
For the first time, Marcus looked afraid.
“I need to come inside.””
“No.””
“Daniel.””
“You don’t walk into my house after what happened.””
His jaw tightened.
“Then listen here.””
I waited.
Marcus took a breath.
“There are people looking for information about your family.””
I almost laughed.
“Convenient story.””
“It’s the truth.””
“You expect me to believe you?””
“No.””
He looked at the security camera above the door.
“I expect you to believe what you see next.””
He pulled out his phone.
He opened a video.
A recording.
A man I didn’t recognize appeared on the screen.
He was sitting in a dark room.
His voice was calm.
“Daniel Walker doesn’t know what he has.””
My stomach tightened.
Marcus stopped the video.
“That was sent to me three days ago.””
“Who sent it?””
“I don’t know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
Marcus looked frustrated.
“I was trying to figure it out.””
I crossed my arms.
“And your solution was to involve Vanessa?””
His face changed.
“I made mistakes.””
“Your mistakes almost got my son killed.””
He looked down.
“I know.””
The honesty surprised me.
But it didn’t change anything.
“You used my wife.””
“Yes.””
The answer came quickly.
I stared at him.
At least he wasn’t pretending anymore.
“I convinced her that you were hiding things,” Marcus said.
“I told her you were planning to leave and take Noah.””
“I never planned that.””
“I know that now.””
“You destroyed my family because you wanted information?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I turned away.
Then he spoke.
“Daniel.””
I stopped.
“Look at the camera footage again.””
“Why?””
“Because there’s something you missed.””
I didn’t want to.
But something in his voice made me walk back inside.
We returned to the security room.
Marcus stood behind me.
Vanessa remained silent on the couch.
I rewound the footage.
The pool.
The stroller.
Vanessa.
Marcus.
I watched carefully.
Then I noticed it.
A shadow.
Near the side gate.
Someone standing outside the property.
Not entering.
Watching.
I zoomed in.
The image became blurry.
But clear enough.
A person was holding something.
A phone.
Recording.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“Who is that?””
Marcus looked at the screen.
His face lost all color.
“No.””
I turned.
“You know him?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
“Who is he?””
His silence lasted too long.
Then he whispered:
“He was never supposed to find you.””
The room went cold.
I stepped closer.
“Find me?””
Marcus looked at Noah’s room upstairs.
Then back at me.
“He isn’t after your money.””
My heart started pounding.
“Then what does he want?””
Marcus swallowed.
“He wants Noah.””
A cry came from upstairs.
Everyone froze.
Maria’s voice followed.
“Daniel!””
I ran.
The door to Noah’s room was open.
Maria stood beside the crib, holding him tightly.
The window was slightly raised.
Cold air moved through the room.
And on the floor beside the crib was a small white envelope.
My name was written on it.
I picked it up with shaking hands.
Inside was a single photograph.
A photograph of Noah.
Taken while he slept.
May you like
On the back were five words.
*He belongs to us.*
