CHAPTER 2: THE BOX OF SECRETS Nobody touched the box at first. It sat in the middle of the basement like someone had placed it there moments ago. Detective Harris put on gloves and carefully opened it. Inside were dozens of documents. Old photographs. Bank records. Letters. And one small recording device. Evie stood behind him, barely breathing. Her father had always told her the basement contained nothing but old furniture. Now she was staring at proof that he had built an entire world of lies beneath their home. Harris examined the papers. “Evie…” She stepped closer. “What is it?” He handed her the first document. It was a birth certificate. But not hers. Another name was written. Lena Carter. Evie frowned. “I don’t know that name.” Then she found the photograph. A young girl. About six years old. Standing beside her father. Richard. Her heart stopped. “That’s impossible.” The detective looked at her. “Who is she?” Evie’s fingers trembled. “My father told me he never had another child.” A silence filled the basement. Then Harris pressed the button on the old recorder. A man’s voice filled the room. Richard’s voice. “If anyone finds this…” Everyone froze. The recording continued. “I failed to protect my family.” Evie’s face changed. For the first time, her anger was replaced by confusion. The voice continued. “The truth about Lena cannot come out. If it does, everything will collapse.” The recording suddenly stopped. The basement went silent again. Detective Harris looked at Evie. “Your father knew someone would find this.” Evie looked around. “Then why leave it here?” A police officer answered. “Maybe he wanted someone to discover it.” “No,” Evie whispered. Everyone looked at her. “He wanted someone specific to discover it.” She looked at the photograph. At the little girl beside her father. Then she noticed something written on the back. A date. And a location. Her face turned pale. Because that location was not far away. It was the same hospital where she had woken up after the fire.

5 chapters