Chapter 7: The Photograph
The photograph slipped from my fingers.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The words written on the back burned into my mind.
*He belongs to us.*
I looked at Noah.
My son was awake now, his tiny face confused as Maria held him against her shoulder.
He didn’t understand the fear filling the room.
He didn’t know that three adults were standing around him, realizing the world was far more dangerous than we had ever imagined.
“Daniel,” Vanessa whispered.
I turned toward her.
“What does this mean?””
She looked at the photograph.
Then at Marcus.
And I saw something that made my chest tighten.
Recognition.
“You know something,” I said.
Vanessa shook her head quickly.
“No.””
“Don’t lie to me again.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I’m not lying.””
“Then why did you look at that picture like you’ve seen it before?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Marcus stepped between us.
“Because she has.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
Marcus rubbed his face.
“This is bigger than the pool.””
I almost laughed.
“Everything keeps being bigger than the pool.””
I pointed toward Noah.
“But my son was almost in a hospital because of your games.””
Marcus accepted the anger without defending himself.
“You’re right.””
That surprised me.
Then he continued.
“But if we don’t figure out who sent that message, the pool won’t be the last attempt.””
Maria held Noah tighter.
“Who are these people?””
Marcus looked at her.
“I don’t know exactly.””
“You don’t know?”” I snapped.
“You keep saying people are after my son, but you don’t even know who they are?””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
“I know what they do.””
“And?””
“They collect information. They create pressure. They force families apart.””
Vanessa sat down slowly.
Her hands were shaking.
“Daniel…”
I looked at her.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“There’s something I never told you.””
The room became silent.
I already hated what was coming next.
“When Noah was born,” she said, “someone contacted me.””
My face hardened.
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“You answered them?””
She nodded.
“Only once.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Vanessa.””
She looked at him.
“I was scared.””
I stared at my wife.
“Scared of what?””
She looked toward Noah.
“They knew things about him.””
My stomach tightened.
“What things?””
She whispered:
“Things nobody should have known.””
The words made the room colder.
I walked closer.
“Explain.””
Vanessa wiped her tears.
“They knew his birth time. They knew details about the hospital. They knew the room number.””
I looked at Marcus.
“You knew?””
He nodded slowly.
“I found out later.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Marcus looked away.
“Because I thought I could handle it.””
I stepped forward.
“You thought?””
My voice echoed.
“You thought you could handle someone threatening my family without telling me?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Because he knew there was no excuse.
A sound suddenly came from downstairs.
A phone ringing.
Everyone froze.
Not my phone.
Not Vanessa’s.
Not Marcus’s.
Maria looked toward the hallway.
“Sir…”
The ringing continued.
Slow.
Patient.
Coming from the kitchen.
I walked downstairs.
The others followed.
On the counter sat an old phone.
One I had never seen before.
I stared at it.
“How did this get here?””
Nobody answered.
The phone stopped.
Then immediately started ringing again.
I picked it up.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a voice.
A man’s voice.
Calm.
Almost friendly.
“Daniel Walker.””
My grip tightened.
“Who is this?””
“You found the photograph.””
I looked at Marcus.
His face had gone pale.
“How do you know that?””
The man ignored the question.
“You have spent your entire life believing Noah is your son.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did you say?””
Vanessa stepped closer.
The voice continued.
“But you never asked the most important question.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“What question?””
A pause.
Then:
May you like
“Who is his real family?””
The call ended.
