Chapter 7: The Photograph That Lied
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
My sister.
Standing beside Daniel.
Smiling.
The same smile she used whenever she was trying to convince everyone she was okay.
But there was something wrong.
Something I couldn’t explain.
Emily never smiled with strangers.
Not like that.
Not with people she didn’t trust.
I looked at the officer holding the photo.
“Where did you get this?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
That bothered me.
“Officer, where did you get this?””
“My name is Carter,” he said.
“Detective Carter.””
“Detective?””
He nodded.
“I’ve been investigating Daniel Cross for months.””
Daniel leaned against the counter.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“You’re wasting your time, Detective.””
Carter ignored him.
His eyes stayed on me.
“Your sister contacted me three weeks ago.””
My heart stopped.
“She did what?””
“She said she had information about Daniel.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Then why is she standing next to him?””
Carter sighed.
“Because she was undercover.””
The entire diner went silent.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at the little girl.
Then back at Carter.
“You’re saying Emily was pretending to work with him?””
“Yes.””
The relief came instantly.
Then disappeared.
Because if that was true, why had Emily warned me about the girl?
Why had she said not to trust her?
I pointed toward the child.
“Then explain her.””
Carter looked at the girl.
His expression changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
“You’re Maya.””
The girl froze.
Her hands started moving.
I watched.
“She knows him.””
Carter nodded.
“She should.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
Carter looked at Daniel.
“Because Daniel Cross wasn’t just targeting families.””
He paused.
“He was collecting witnesses.””
The room felt colder.
Maya stepped closer to me.
Her hands moved again.
I understood only part of it.
“Emily.””
“She wants to know about Emily,” I said.
Carter reached into his folder.
He pulled out another photograph.
This one was different.
Emily was sitting across from Maya in a small room.
They weren’t smiling.
They looked serious.
Like they were planning something.
“Your sister found Maya two weeks ago,” Carter explained.
“Found her where?””
“In a place connected to Daniel.””
I looked at Maya.
“She was trying to save her?””
Carter nodded.
“Yes.””
Daniel suddenly laughed.
Everyone turned toward him.
“You’re all so desperate to believe heroes exist.””
Carter finally looked at him.
“Daniel.””
“No, Detective. Tell her the truth.””
Daniel pointed at Maya.
“She’s not some innocent child caught in the middle.””
Maya stepped back.
Her face turned pale.
I moved closer to her.
“Don’t listen to him.””
But Daniel continued.
“She knows exactly what she did.””
The words hung in the air.
I looked at Maya.
“What is he talking about?””
She looked down.
Her hands moved slowly.
“I didn’t mean to.””
My chest tightened.
“Didn’t mean to do what?””
She looked at the floor.
Then she signed:
“The accident.””
Nobody moved.
Carter’s face changed.
“What accident?””
Maya looked terrified.
She pointed toward the blue car outside.
Then she signed:
“My mom.””
I felt sick.
“She was in the car.””
Maya nodded.
“I ran because…”
She stopped.
Tears filled her eyes.
I knelt down.
“Because what?””
Her hands shook.
“Because I saw who did it.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
Only for a moment.
But enough.
I saw fear.
Real fear.
I turned toward him.
“You?””
Daniel said nothing.
Carter stepped forward.
“Daniel, don’t move.””
For the first time all night, Daniel looked cornered.
Then he smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
The diner lights flickered.
Again.
Carter immediately looked up.
“What’s happening?””
Daniel looked toward the ceiling.
Then toward the back exit.
“I’m not the only one who knows how to control this place.””
My blood went cold.
Because he wasn’t looking at Rick.
He wasn’t looking at the officer.
He was looking at the person standing behind Carter.
Another officer.
One I hadn’t noticed before.
The second officer slowly reached for his weapon.
Carter turned.
“Freeze.””
But the second officer smiled.
And whispered:
“Sorry, Detective.””
May you like
Then he aimed the gun.
“Daniel was never my target.””
