Chapter 6: The Person Behind the Door
The hospital room felt like it had shrunk around us.
I stared at the photograph.
My mother.
Standing outside a building I recognized.
The old Bellavita restaurant.
Before it was renovated.
Before I ever worked there.
Before I knew any of these people.
My fingers went numb.
“When was this taken?””
Daniel looked at the screen.
“The day before she died.””
I looked at him.
“And you never told me?””
His face tightened.
“I didn’t know about the photo.””
“But you knew she was investigating something.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Daniel had no answer.
That hurt more than a lie.
Michael slowly stood.
“Sarah.””
I looked at him.
“Your mother wasn’t just trying to protect you.””
His voice was quiet.
“She was trying to expose someone.””
I looked back at the photograph.
“Who?””
Daniel walked toward the window.
“I need to tell you something about my family.””
I waited.
“Emily’s mother wasn’t my first wife.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
“I was married before.””
Michael nodded.
“And that marriage is where everything started.””
A chill moved through me.
“Who was your first wife?””
Daniel looked down.
“Victoria Whitmore.””
The name meant nothing.
Until Michael spoke.
“Your mother’s closest friend.””
My breath caught.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
The pieces started moving.
Slowly.
Painfully.
My mother.
The Whitmores.
My father disappearing.
The restaurant.
Everything connected.
“She knew my mother?””
Daniel nodded.
“They were like sisters.””
“Then why would she hurt her?””
Nobody answered.
Because the answer was worse than the question.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
A message.
I opened it.
*Stop asking questions about your mother.*
Another message appeared immediately.
*Some people disappear for a reason.*
Then the final message came.
*You should have stayed on your knees tonight.*
My blood turned cold.
Daniel saw my face.
“What happened?””
I handed him the phone.
He read the messages.
His expression changed.
“That’s impossible.””
“What?””
He looked at Michael.
Then at me.
“Because the only people who knew you were here…”
He stopped.
The hallway lights flickered.
A nurse walked past the room.
Then stopped.
She slowly looked inside.
Her face changed when she saw me.
“Sarah?””
I turned.
“Yes?””
She hesitated.
“I’m sorry.””
“For what?””
She reached into her pocket.
And pulled out a small envelope.
“This was left at the front desk for you.””
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
“Who left it?””
The nurse swallowed.
“I don’t know.””
I took the envelope.
My name was written on the front.
Not typed.
Handwritten.
The same handwriting.
The same curves.
The same style.
My mother’s handwriting.
But that was impossible.
I opened it.
Inside was one page.
Only one sentence.
My hands began shaking as I read it.
*Sarah, if you are reading this, do not trust the man who claims he saved your father.*
I slowly looked up.
At Daniel.
May you like
And for the first time that night…
I wondered if the man who walked into the restaurant to protect me had been hiding the biggest secret of all.
