Chapter 6 - David stared at the screen.Lily Harper was alive.

The little girl looked directly into the camera.

She seemed exhausted.

Weak.

But alive.

David's hands shook.

He grabbed the monitor.

“Where is this hospital?”

Ryan entered the room.

His face went white.

“What?”

“Lily.”

Ryan stared at the screen.

“No…”

Melissa appeared behind him.

She saw the monitor.

Then she collapsed.

David caught her.

“You knew.”

Melissa looked up.

“I thought she was dead.”

“You knew she was alive?”

“No.”

“Then why did you say you killed her?”

Tears ran down Melissa's face.

“Because I thought I did.”

David lowered his voice.

“Explain.”

Melissa looked at the screen.

“When Daniel asked me to protect the evidence, he told me Lily was with him.”

“And?”

“I was followed.”

“By who?”

“I don't know.”

“Melissa.”

She squeezed her eyes shut.

“I was driving Lily.”

David froze.

“What?”

“Daniel asked me to take her somewhere safe.”

“Where?”

“An apartment outside the city.”

“You drove his daughter?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“I was stopped.”

“By police?”

“No.”

“Who?”

Melissa whispered,

“I don't know.”

David felt his blood run cold.

“They took her?”

“I thought they did.”

“But you didn't tell Daniel?”

“I couldn't.”

“Why?”

“Because they called me.”

Melissa looked at Clara.

“They told me if I said anything, they would kill my family.”

David's voice cracked.

“You should have told me.”

“I thought staying silent would keep you safe.”

“It didn't.”

“I know.”

Ryan stepped toward the monitor.

“Look at the timestamp.”

David did.

The live feed was from two minutes earlier.

The hospital was nearby.

Ryan searched the room.

“Saint Vincent's.”

David grabbed his coat.

“We're going.”

Ryan stopped him.

“You can't.”

“That's my choice.”

“No. It's theirs.”

David turned.

Ryan pointed toward Clara.

“They put you under surveillance for one reason.”

“What?”

“Because you're the bait.”

David looked at Clara.

She was holding Mikey.

Her face was confused.

“What do they want with me?”

David knelt.

“Nothing.”

Ryan looked away.

David knew he was lying to himself.

Then Clara spoke.

“Dad?”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember the man from Mom's phone?”

Melissa froze.

“What man?”

Clara pointed at her mother's bedroom.

“The picture.”

David looked at Melissa.

“What picture?”

Melissa didn't move.

David walked into the bedroom.

He searched the drawers.

Under the mattress.

Inside the closet.

Nothing.

Then he saw a hidden compartment in the dresser.

He opened it.

Inside was a phone.

Old.

Cracked.

Powered off.

He turned it on.

There was one photograph.

Daniel Harper standing beside Melissa.

And between them stood Lily.

But the date underneath the photograph was only six months old.

David's throat tightened.

“Melissa.”

She came into the doorway.

“Where was this taken?”

She stared at the screen.

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

“No.”

“Then explain the date.”

Melissa shook her head.

“I can't.”

Suddenly the phone rang.

All three adults froze.

The caller ID showed no number.

David answered.

Static.

Then a child's voice.

“Daddy?”

David's face went blank.

It was Clara's voice.

But Clara was standing next to him.

The recording continued.

“Daddy, please come home.”

David looked at his daughter.

Her face had gone pale.

Then another voice came through.

A man's voice.

“David.”

He didn't answer.

The man spoke again.

“You've been asking the wrong questions.”

“Who are you?”

“I think you already know.”

David clenched his jaw.

“Where is Lily?”

A pause.

Then:

“She is where your wife put her.”

Melissa covered her mouth.

David looked at her.

“What does that mean?”

The caller laughed softly.

“It means Lily wasn't taken from Melissa.”

David stared.

“She was given away.”

The call ended.

David turned slowly toward his wife.

“Given away to who?”

Melissa couldn't speak.

Clara suddenly stepped backward.

Her eyes locked on the old phone.

“Dad…”

“What?”

“That man's voice…”

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She swallowed.

“He talks to Mom every night.”