Chapter 6: The Person Watching Us

I didn’t sleep that night.

How could I?

Someone had been inside my house.

Someone had watched us.

Someone knew exactly what we were doing.

I sat in the living room with every light turned on.

The same room where Emily and I had celebrated birthdays.

The same room where we had opened Christmas presents.

Now every corner felt like a hiding place.

Detective Collins arrived at sunrise.

“We checked the house.””

“And?””

“No signs of forced entry.””

That answer terrified me more.

“So they had a key.””

Sarah didn’t deny it.

“Yes.””

I looked around.

Only a few people had keys.

Michael.

Maria.

And Emily’s parents.

My phone rang.

Emily.

I answered immediately.

“Are you okay?””

Her voice was nervous.

“Daniel, where are you?””

“Home.””

“Don’t stay there.””

My heart jumped.

“Why?””

She was silent.

Then whispered:

“Because I remember something else.””

I stood.

“What?””

“When I was unconscious…”

She took a shaky breath.

“I could hear people talking.””

“Who?””

“Michael.””

“And?””

Emily’s voice cracked.

“A woman.””

I looked at Sarah.

“What woman?””

“I don’t know.””

“Emily, think.””

She closed her eyes.

“I heard her say my name.””

“What did she say?””

Emily was quiet for several seconds.

Then:

“She said, ‘Once she’s gone, Daniel will sign everything.’”

My blood ran cold.

“What does that mean?””

“I don’t know.””

Detective Collins stepped closer.

“Ask her if she recognized the voice.””

I repeated the question.

Emily thought carefully.

Then she answered.

“Yes.””

“Who was it?””

Her breathing changed.

Like she was afraid to say it.

“Daniel…”

“Who?””

“She sounded like someone I know.””

I gripped the phone.

“Tell me.””

A long pause.

Then Emily whispered:

“Your mother.””

I froze.

My mother had been dead for five years.

“That’s impossible.””

“I know what I heard.””

“No, Emily.””

My voice broke.

“My mother is gone.””

“I know.””

She started crying.

“But the woman with Michael wasn’t your mother.””

I stopped.

“What?””

“She called him by a different name.””

My confusion grew.

“What name?””

Emily whispered:

“Richard.””

The room went silent.

I looked at Detective Collins.

“Who is Richard?””

Sarah’s expression changed.

She immediately grabbed her notebook.

“Daniel.””

“What?””

“Your brother’s middle name.””

I felt the air leave my lungs.

Michael Richard Carter.

But nobody called him Richard.

Nobody.

Except one person.

Someone from his past.

Someone Emily had somehow heard.

Before I could ask another question, a loud crash came from upstairs.

Everyone turned.

Detective Collins pulled her weapon.

“Stay here.””

She moved toward the stairs.

Another crash.

Then footsteps.

Someone was inside.

Sarah reached the second floor.

“Police! Show yourself!””

Silence.

Then a door opened.

I followed despite her warning.

The bedroom door slowly swung open.

Nobody was there.

But on the floor was a small envelope.

My name was written on it.

Again.

I picked it up.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

Three words were written in black ink.

*Emily knows everything.*

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