Chapter 6: The Promise Daniel Made
I didn’t remember leaving the garage.
I only remembered grabbing Noah’s hand.
Running.
The world moved too slowly.
Every car behind us looked suspicious.
Every person walking past felt like a threat.
My son noticed.
“Mom?””
I forced myself to look at him.
“What?””
“Are we in trouble?””
I hated that he had to ask.
I knelt down.
“Noah, listen to me.””
His eyes searched mine.
“Your dad loved you more than anything.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
“And whatever happens, I’m going to keep you safe.””
He held the brass key tightly.
“Like Dad wanted?””
I nodded.
“Exactly like Dad wanted.””
When we returned home, Hammer checked every window and door.
That alone terrified me.
Because a man like Hammer didn’t get nervous easily.
“What are we doing?”” I asked.
He looked through the blinds.
“Waiting.””
“For what?””
“For them to make a mistake.””
I didn’t like that answer.
I wanted police.
I wanted explanations.
I wanted Daniel to walk through the door and tell me this was all some horrible misunderstanding.
But Daniel wasn’t coming back.
And someone had been lying to me for months.
Hammer opened the notebook again.
“There’s something I didn’t tell you.””
I looked at him.
“Another secret?””
He nodded.
“Daniel asked me to watch over Noah.””
“Why?””
“Because he believed someone close to him might try to use Noah to get to the evidence.””
My heart dropped.
“Who?””
Hammer stayed silent.
That silence was becoming unbearable.
“Who?””
Before he could answer, the lights went out.
The entire house went dark.
Noah grabbed my hand.
“Mom?””
“Stay behind me.””
Hammer immediately moved toward the front door.
A sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Then footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Someone was walking toward the house.
Hammer whispered:
“Get Noah upstairs.””
I didn’t argue.
I grabbed my son.
We moved toward the hallway.
Then the front door handle turned.
Once.
Twice.
Someone was trying to open it.
Hammer stood in the darkness.
Ready.
The door opened.
A shadow stepped inside.
“Don’t shoot.””
Michael.
I almost collapsed from relief.
Then I saw his face.
He was bleeding.
“What happened?””
He looked behind him.
“They found me.””
Hammer grabbed him.
“Who?””
Michael looked at Noah.
His eyes filled with regret.
“Daniel was right.””
I froze.
“About what?””
Michael reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
Another letter.
This one had my name on it.
But it wasn’t Daniel’s handwriting.
It was mine.
I stared at it.
“That’s impossible.””
Michael’s voice shook.
“Your husband didn’t write this.””
He handed it to me.
“Daniel found it hidden in the Harley.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of me.
Standing beside Daniel.
Holding baby Noah.
But written across the bottom were four words.
THEY HAVE BEEN WATCHING.
I looked up.
“Who took this?””
Michael’s face went pale.
“Emma…”
He pointed toward the window.
“You need to understand something.””
Outside, a car engine started.
Michael whispered:
“The person Daniel was afraid of wasn’t trying to destroy his evidence.””
The engine grew louder.
“He was trying to protect you from the person who created it.””
The car stopped outside.
A figure stepped out.
And when the porch light flickered on, I saw the face of the person standing at my door.
The same face I had trusted for eleven months.
The same face that had hugged me at Daniel’s funeral.
May you like
The same face Daniel warned me about.
My father-in-law.
