Chapter 7: The Man In The Shadows

Daniel did not sleep that night.

Neither did Noah.

Because Noah saw the fear on his father’s face.

And children always notice more than adults think.

The next morning, Daniel sat at the kitchen table with both children.

“Something happened,” Noah said.

Daniel looked at him.

“Why do you think that?””

“Because you’re doing the same thing I used to do.””

Daniel frowned.

“What?””

“Pretending everything is okay.””

The honesty of it hurt.

Daniel took a breath.

“You’re right.””

Lily looked between them.

“Are we in trouble?””

Daniel immediately reached for her hand.

“No.””

“Promise?””

“I promise.””

But inside, Daniel knew promises were complicated.

Sometimes people made them with the best intentions.

And sometimes life tested them.

Detective Harris arrived that afternoon.

He showed Daniel the camera footage.

The person was wearing a hood.

Their face was hidden.

“We don’t know who it is yet,” Harris said.

Daniel stared at the screen.

“But you think it’s connected to Claire.””

“We do.””

“Why?””

“Because this person left something.””

The detective placed an envelope on the table.

Daniel opened it.

Inside was a handwritten note.

Three words.

“You forgot me.””

Daniel felt a chill.

“What does that mean?””

Harris looked serious.

“We’re trying to find out.””

That evening, Daniel checked every door twice.

Then three times.

Noah noticed.

“Dad?””

“Yeah?””

“Are we safe?””

Daniel wanted to say yes.

He wanted to erase the fear from his son’s eyes.

But Noah was old enough now to know when adults were lying.

So Daniel answered honestly.

“We’re going to make sure we are.””

Noah nodded.

Then he quietly said:

“I think I know who it is.””

Daniel turned.

“What?””

Noah looked scared.

“The person in the picture.””

“What picture?””

“The one from Aunt Claire’s room.””

Daniel’s heart raced.

“Noah, what are you talking about?””

“The old photo.””

He ran upstairs and returned with the picture.

He pointed at the background.

Behind Claire and the other family stood a man.

Someone Daniel had never noticed.

Someone blurred in the corner.

But now he saw him.

Daniel stared.

Because he recognized him.

Not from memory.

From the news.

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