Chapter 3: The Name Hidden in My Father's Files
I couldn't sleep that night.
Not in the airport hotel.
Not in the uncomfortable chair beside Lily's bed.
Not even after my daughter finally stopped asking questions.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Officer Harris's face.
Not anger.
Not suspicion.
Fear.
The next morning, Captain Williams arrived with a brown envelope.
He placed it on the table.
"Your father left this.""
I stared at it.
"My father?""
"Yes.""
"How do you have it?""
Williams sat down slowly.
"Because he gave it to me the week before he disappeared.""
My fingers hovered over the envelope.
"You knew he was going to disappear?""
"No.""
"Then why keep this from me?""
The captain looked ashamed.
"Because Daniel made me promise.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My father's handwriting.
The first thing I had seen from him in twenty-six years.
Sarah,
If you are reading this, something happened before I could explain everything.
My hands started shaking.
Lily climbed onto the chair beside me.
"Is that Grandpa?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
I kept reading.
Your mother knows the truth. She had no choice but to hide it. Trust Captain Williams. Do not trust anyone connected to the Harris investigation.
I stopped.
My eyes moved to the last line.
Especially not Michael Harris.
I looked up.
"He knew.""
Williams nodded.
"He suspected Harris.""
"Why didn't you arrest him?""
The captain's face tightened.
"Because suspicion isn't proof.""
"What proof did my father find?""
Williams opened another folder.
Inside were copies of old case files.
"Daniel discovered that Emily Harris had been investigating financial crimes before she disappeared.""
"Financial crimes?""
"Money laundering. Stolen identities. Fake documents.""
My eyes went to my passport.
The stolen passport accusation.
The strange coincidence.
"You think Harris used my passport?""
"We think someone wanted to stop you from traveling.""
"Why?""
Williams hesitated.
"Because of what your father left behind.""
"What did he leave behind?""
The captain looked at me.
"Something nobody has been able to find.""
I felt a chill.
"What?""
"A list.""
"A list of what?""
"Names.""
I looked at the documents.
"Names of criminals?""
Williams shook his head.
"No.""
His voice dropped.
"Names of police officers.""
Before I could answer, there was a loud crash outside.
Everyone turned.
An officer ran into the room.
"Captain!""
"What happened?""
"Officer Harris escaped custody.""
My heart dropped.
"What?""
"He attacked one of the guards and took his phone.""
Williams stood.
"Where is he now?""
The officer looked uncomfortable.
"We don't know.""
A terrible silence filled the room.
Then Lily whispered:
"Mommy.""
I turned.
She was holding something.
A small piece of paper.
"Where did you get that?""
She pointed toward my suitcase.
"It was inside Grandma's scarf.""
I took it from her.
My hands froze.
Because I recognized the handwriting.
My mother's handwriting.
The note was only one sentence.
Sarah,
If Captain Williams ever finds you, ask him about the second photograph.
My heart raced.
"Second photograph?""
Williams looked confused.
"I don't know what that means.""
I turned the paper over.
There was one more thing written on the back.
An address.
An address I recognized.
My childhood home.
The house my mother sold after my father died.
"Captain...""
He looked at me.
"My mother left this for me.""
Williams picked up the note.
His face changed.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because that house was searched twenty-six years ago.""
"By who?""
The captain stared at the address.
Then he slowly looked toward the airport entrance.
"By Michael Harris.""
A phone on the desk suddenly rang.
Everyone froze.
The officer answered.
Then his face went white.
"Captain...""
Williams took the phone.
"Hello?""
A voice came through the speaker.
A voice I recognized.
Officer Harris.
"Captain Williams.""
The room went silent.
"Where are you, Harris?"" Williams demanded.
A short laugh came through.
"Still protecting Daniel Mitchell's daughter?""
Williams tightened his grip.
"You don't want to do this.""
"Oh, I already did.""
I stepped closer.
"Harris!""
There was silence.
Then he spoke directly to me.
"Sarah Mitchell.""
My blood ran cold.
"You look just like him.""
"Why did you lie about my passport?""
Another pause.
Then his voice changed.
"You don't understand what your father found.""
"Tell me.""
"He wasn't investigating my wife.""
The room froze.
"He was investigating someone much closer.""
"Who?""
Harris laughed quietly.
Then the line went dead.
On the desk beside the phone, another officer found a message Harris had left behind.
Only four words.
The words that made Captain Williams sit down.
"Ask your mother why.""
I stared at the message.
Because suddenly, for the first time in my life...
May you like
I wondered if my mother had been hiding the truth to protect me.
Or if she had been hiding it to protect herself.
