Chapter 7: The Daughter’s Secret
The words from the recorder stayed in my head.
“My own daughter knew the truth.””
Nobody spoke.
The garage suddenly felt smaller.
The air felt heavier.
Officer Reed looked at me carefully.
“Megan…”
I couldn’t answer.
My eyes were still locked on the recorder lying on the concrete floor.
My father’s voice.
My father’s accusation.
My father had believed I knew something.
But I was sixteen when he died.
I was a kid.
I didn’t know anything.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered.
Daniel watched me.
And for the first time that night, I saw something different in his eyes.
Not fear.
Recognition.
“You really don’t remember,” he said.
I turned toward him.
“Remember what?””
Daniel looked away.
“Megan, your father wasn’t just investigating me.””
Officer Reed stepped forward.
“Keep talking.””
Daniel swallowed.
“He was investigating everyone around him.””
Laura shook her head.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You know I’m telling the truth.””
Laura’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
There was something she wasn’t saying.
I looked at her.
“What is he talking about?””
Laura looked down.
“I didn’t know about you.””
“About me?””
She hesitated.
Then she sighed.
“Your father was paranoid near the end.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“He trusted almost nobody.””
Daniel nodded.
“Except one person.””
Nobody moved.
“Who?””
Daniel looked directly at me.
“You.””
I stared at him.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“My father never involved me in his work.””
Daniel gave a bitter smile.
“You were more involved than you realized.””
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Everyone looked at it.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
A photo.
I opened it.
And my entire body went cold.
It was a picture of my father sitting in a car.
Alive.
Taken the night he supposedly died.
Below the image was one sentence.
*YOU NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.*
Officer Reed saw my face.
“What is it?””
I showed him.
His expression changed.
“That photo is recent.””
I looked closer.
He was right.
The image quality was clear.
Too clear.
My father’s watch was visible.
The same watch I had buried with him.
Except now…
it was on his wrist.
“That’s impossible,” I whispered.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Who sent that?””
I looked at him.
“You tell me.””
For the first time, Daniel looked nervous.
“I don’t know.””
The parrot suddenly flew down from the curtain rod.
It landed near the recorder.
Then it spoke.
My father’s voice.
“Megan, if you see this…”
The room froze.
The bird continued.
“Do not believe Daniel.””
Daniel stepped back.
The bird’s voice changed.
A woman’s voice.
“Do not believe Laura either.””
Laura gasped.
“What?””
Then the bird returned to my father’s voice.
“Find the second recorder.””
I looked around.
“Second recorder?””
The bird tilted its head.
“Where I hid the truth.””
Everyone started searching.
Except Daniel.
He stood completely still.
Because he knew.
“You know where it is,” I said.
Daniel didn’t answer.
“You know.””
His jaw tightened.
“I know where your father kept his secrets.””
“Then take me there.””
“No.””
Officer Reed moved closer.
“You’re not in a position to refuse.””
Daniel looked at me.
“There’s something you need to understand.””
“What?””
“Your father didn’t die because he discovered my crimes.””
A chill went through me.
“Then why?””
Daniel whispered:
“Because he discovered what you did.””
My heart stopped.
I stepped back.
“That’s a lie.””
Daniel looked at me.
“I wish it was.””
The parrot suddenly screamed.
“BASEMENT WALL!””
Everyone turned.
The bird began hitting its cage.
“BREAK THE WALL!””
Megan looked confused.
“What’s behind the wall?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Because he knew.
And before anyone could move, a loud crash came from downstairs.
May you like
The basement wall had already started breaking.
Someone was inside.
