Chapter 4 - The Second CarThe footage from my parents' driveway was recorded by a doorbell camera across the street.
The image was grainy.
Snow distorted everything.
But the timestamp was clear.
8:42 p.m.
Ava stood on the porch holding Lily's hand.
They were not leaving.
They were waiting.
At 8:44, my mother opened the door.
She stepped outside.
She said something.
Ava moved closer.
Lily reached for her.
Then my mother pointed toward the street.
Ava shook her head.
My mother pointed again.
Then she went back inside.
Ava knocked.
My mother did not return.
At 8:48, my father appeared.
He stood behind the glass.
He watched them.
At 8:49, the girls left.
But something else happened.
A vehicle pulled into the driveway.
Black SUV.
It stopped near the garage.
I leaned toward the screen.
"Whose car is that?"
Officer Harris zoomed in.
"We're not sure."
The SUV remained there for thirty-two seconds.
Then it drove away.
My father never stepped outside.
I looked at Daniel.
"Do my parents have another car?"
"No."
"Could it have been a delivery driver?"
Officer Harris shook his head.
"The vehicle did not stop at the front door."
He switched to another angle.
The black SUV parked near the side gate.
Someone got out.
Tall man.
Dark coat.
He walked toward the house.
Then the camera lost him behind the garage.
My heart raced.
"Did anyone come out?"
Officer Harris looked at the timestamp.
"Four minutes later."
A figure exited the side door.
Carried something.
My father.
He was carrying a small cardboard box.
He walked toward the SUV.
The person in the black coat took the box.
Then the SUV left.
I stared at the screen.
"What was in that box?"
"We don't know."
Daniel was silent.
I looked at him.
He was staring at the timestamp.
"What?"
He pointed.
"Look."
I did.
8:38 p.m.
Eight minutes before the girls were turned away.
The black SUV had already passed the house once.
It circled the block.
Twice.
"That's not random."
Officer Harris agreed.
"It may not be."
I felt a knot form in my throat.
"Is there a chance this has something to do with Daniel?"
Daniel's face hardened.
"What would my family have to do with me?"
"I don't know."
But there was an answer inside me.
A terrible one.
I remembered the week before Christmas.
Daniel had told me someone had been asking questions at his office.
He had dismissed it.
Then he'd changed the locks.
I'd teased him about becoming paranoid.
He hadn't laughed.
Now I wondered why.
Officer Harris handed me a card.
"Don't confront your parents tonight."
"I wasn't planning to."
"You might change your mind after what happened."
I looked at Ava through the glass window.
She was asleep.
Lily was still being monitored.
I wanted to be with them.
But Daniel caught my wrist.
"Elena."
"What?"
"Call your sister."
I frowned.
"I don't have her number."
"Yes, you do."
I stared at him.
"My sister died when I was nineteen."
Daniel's expression changed.
"I know."
"Then why did you say..."
He looked confused.
"I saw a message."
"Where?"
"On your mother's phone."
I felt the room tilt.
"What message?"
He reached for his own phone.
"I didn't think it mattered before."
He showed me a photograph.
It had been taken earlier that week.
My mother holding her phone.
On the screen was a contact name.
Not my sister.
Someone else.
A name I recognized immediately.
My father's former business partner.
A man who had disappeared ten years ago after being investigated for fraud.
Daniel whispered:
"Why would he be messaging your mother?"
Before I could answer, my phone rang again.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke softly.
"You're asking the wrong questions."
My blood ran cold.
"Who is this?"
May you like
"You should be asking why your parents needed that box."
Then the line went dead.
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