Chapter 4: The Photograph
Emma wouldn't let Aaron inside.
She stood in the doorway with one hand wrapped around the edge of the door, keeping her body between him and the hallway.
Marcus had already disappeared into the kitchen.
Aaron stared at her.
"Who knows about Lily?""
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
"You have to leave.""
"No.""
"Aaron.""
"Not until you tell me.""
She glanced over her shoulder.
Marcus called from inside, "Emma?""
She flinched.
Aaron saw it.
He lowered his voice.
"Are you afraid of him?""
She didn't answer.
"Emma.""
"I don't know what to do.""
"You start by telling me the truth.""
Her eyes closed.
"I was trying to protect you.""
"By telling my daughter's school I'm dangerous?""
"I had no choice.""
"You always have a choice.""
"No, I didn't!""
Her voice echoed through the house.
Marcus appeared in the hallway.
"What happened?""
Emma wiped her face.
"Nothing.""
Marcus looked at Aaron.
"Go home.""
Aaron stepped toward him.
"You don't get to tell me that.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"She does.""
Aaron looked at Emma.
She shook her head.
"Please.""
The word wasn't angry.
It was terrified.
Aaron stepped back.
"Fine.""
He turned.
Then Emma whispered, "The envelope.""
Aaron stopped.
"What about it?""
"It's for you.""
Marcus's head snapped toward her.
"Emma.""
She looked at him.
For the first time, something like defiance appeared in her eyes.
"I said it's for him.""
Marcus moved.
Aaron saw him reach toward the envelope.
Emma pulled it away.
"Don't.""
Aaron crossed the space between them.
Marcus blocked him.
"Back up.""
Aaron stared into his eyes.
"You touch that envelope, and I'm calling the police.""
Marcus smiled.
"You think the police will believe you?""
Aaron's stomach tightened.
He stepped around him.
Emma handed over the envelope.
Her fingers trembled.
"Don't open it here.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere safe.""
Aaron looked at her.
"What is it?""
She whispered, "Proof.""
He took it.
Then he left.
He drove for fifteen minutes before stopping in an empty grocery-store parking lot.
The sun had disappeared.
Streetlights reflected in the wet pavement.
Aaron sat alone and opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
He stared at it.
Lily.
Seven years old.
Standing in front of a motel.
She wore the yellow dress Emma had bought for her birthday.
Aaron turned the photograph over.
On the back was a date.
*September 12.*
That date meant nothing to him.
Then he noticed the second line.
*3:42 A.M.*
Underneath it, handwritten:
*She was never supposed to survive.*
Aaron dropped the photograph.
His hands began shaking.
There were more papers.
Bank statements.
Emails.
A copy of a life-insurance policy.
He picked it up.
His name was listed as the insured.
Emma was the beneficiary.
The policy had been increased six months earlier.
From $250,000 to $2 million.
Aaron stared at the signature authorizing the increase.
It looked like his.
But he knew he hadn't signed it.
His phone rang.
Detective Reed.
Aaron answered.
"Detective.""
"Where are you?""
"Parking lot near Brookhaven.""
"Are you alone?""
"Yes.""
"Good.""
Aaron looked at the photograph again.
"Did you know about a motel?""
There was silence.
Then Reed said, "What motel?""
Aaron felt a chill crawl up his spine.
He read the address printed on the corner of the photograph.
"Lakeview Motor Lodge.""
Reed inhaled sharply.
"Where did you get that?""
"My wife.""
"Don't go there.""
Aaron looked toward the road.
"Why?""
"Because we have an open investigation connected to that location.""
Aaron sat completely still.
"Connected to what?""
Reed's voice dropped.
"An attempted kidnapping.""
Aaron's fingers tightened around the phone.
"Who was the victim?""
Another pause.
Then Reed said, "A seven-year-old girl.""
Aaron looked down at Lily's photograph.
The girl's face smiled innocently at the camera.
Aaron couldn't breathe.
"Detective…"
"Yes?""
"Was it Lily?""
Reed didn't answer.
That was the answer.
Aaron ended the call.
Then he looked again at the photograph.
September 12.
3:42 A.M.
His daughter standing outside a motel.
And suddenly one memory returned.
Three months earlier, Emma had told him Lily had been sleeping at her grandmother's house that weekend.
Aaron had believed her.
Because why wouldn't he?
He opened the last paper in the envelope.
It was a motel receipt.
Room 17.
Paid in cash.
Guest name:
*Aaron Blake.*
He stared at it.
"I've never been there.""
A shadow moved across the parking lot.
Aaron looked up.
The black SUV from Emma's house had stopped at the far end of the lot.
Its headlights switched on.
Aaron started the engine.
The SUV moved.
So did he.
His phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID showed Emma.
Aaron answered on speaker.
Her voice was barely audible.
"Aaron…"
"I'm listening.""
"Please don't trust Detective Reed.""
Aaron's blood went cold.
"Why?""
"Because he was there that night.""
The line went dead.
Aaron looked into the rearview mirror.
The black SUV was still behind him.
And then his phone lit up with a photograph he had never seen before.
May you like
A photograph of Aaron asleep in his own bedroom.
Taken from inside the house.
