Chapter 4: The Empty Car
Marcus reached the front door before Grace could move.
“Ava!””
The driveway was empty.
The security gate at the end of the property was already sliding open.
A dark SUV disappeared around the bend.
Marcus ran outside.
“Marcus!”” Grace shouted behind him.
“Wait!””
He didn't.
He sprinted down the driveway, his dress shoes striking the stone so hard one nearly slipped off.
The SUV was gone.
Marcus stopped at the gate, chest heaving.
He pulled out his phone and called the security office.
“Lock down the property.””
A man's voice answered immediately.
“Sir?””
“Close every gate. Now. Nobody leaves this estate.””
“Yes, sir.””
“And pull every camera from the last hour.””
“Yes, Mr. Marcus.””
Marcus turned around.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
She wasn't crying anymore.
Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself.
Grace stood beside her, pale and shaking.
Marcus walked back inside.
“Where is Ava?””
Grace's eyes filled.
“I don't know.””
“You were with her.””
“I was.””
“Then where is she?””
Grace pointed toward the hallway.
“She heard the car.””
Marcus looked at the open door.
“She ran outside?””
Grace shook her head.
“No.””
“Then what happened?””
Grace swallowed.
“I heard the front door.””
“From where?””
“The kitchen.””
“What did you do?””
“I came into the hall and Ava was gone.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You lost my daughter in five seconds?””
“No!””
Grace's voice broke.
“I was right here.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Maybe she followed whoever took her.””
Marcus turned.
“Who are you talking about?””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the driveway.
“I don't know.””
“You seem very sure someone took her.””
“I saw the car.””
“What car?””
“The black SUV.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You knew what it looked like?””
Vanessa froze.
“I saw it leave.””
“From where?””
“The stairs.””
Marcus frowned.
“You were upstairs.””
“Yes.””
“With me.””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Grace stared at her.
“You weren't there when Ava disappeared.””
Vanessa snapped her head toward Grace.
“Be quiet.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Grace.””
“Yes?””
“Tell me exactly what happened.””
Grace took a shaky breath.
“I brought Ava downstairs. You told me to stay with her, so I sat with her in the living room.””
Marcus glanced toward the sofa.
“Then?””
“She asked where you were.””
“I told her you were upstairs.””
“She wanted to go to you, but I told her to wait.””
Grace's hands trembled.
“Then the power flickered.””
Marcus looked toward the ceiling.
It had.
He remembered the lights dimming when he came down.
“How long?””
“Maybe two seconds.””
“And then?””
“I heard the front door slam.””
Grace swallowed.
“When I looked back, Ava was gone.””
Marcus's face tightened.
“Was the door locked?””
“Yes.””
“Did you unlock it?””
“No.””
“Then how did it open?””
Grace shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked at the entryway.
The alarm panel beside the door was dark.
He walked toward it.
The screen displayed a small warning.
*SYSTEM DISARMED — 8:41 PM*
Marcus stopped.
“What time did the door open?””
Grace looked at the clock.
“Eight forty-one.””
Marcus glanced at Vanessa.
She had stopped breathing.
“How did you disarm the alarm?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I didn't.””
Marcus pointed at the panel.
“Then who did?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus turned to Grace.
“Where's your phone?””
Grace handed it over.
He checked it.
Nothing.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“Give me yours.””
She hesitated.
“Why?””
“Now.””
Vanessa reached into her pocket.
Her phone was gone.
“I left it upstairs.””
Marcus held out his hand.
“Go get it.””
Vanessa didn't move.
“Marcus…”
“Go.””
She slowly turned toward the stairs.
Marcus watched her every step.
Then his own phone buzzed.
The unknown number again.
He answered.
“Where is my daughter?””
The woman's voice was frantic.
“Did you find the room?””
“No.””
“You need to go there.””
“The nursery?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because that's where Vanessa keeps the things she doesn't want you to find.””
Marcus looked toward the staircase.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Elena.””
“Why should I trust you?””
“You shouldn't.””
Her answer stopped him.
“But your daughter is running out of time.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?””
“I wasn't supposed to tell you this yet.””
“Tell me now.””
“She didn't take Ava.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who?””
“Vanessa.””
Marcus stared at his wife.
“What?””
“Vanessa didn't take your daughter.””
“Then who did?””
Elena's voice dropped.
“The man Vanessa has been paying.””
Marcus felt a chill run down his back.
“For what?””
Silence.
“For three years.””
The call ended.
Marcus stood motionless.
Grace watched him.
“What did she say?””
Marcus looked at the stairs.
“She says Vanessa has been paying a man for three years.””
Grace covered her mouth.
“For what?””
“I don't know.””
Behind them, a bedroom door slammed upstairs.
Marcus's head snapped toward the sound.
“Vanessa.””
He ran up the stairs.
Grace followed.
They reached the landing.
Vanessa was standing in the hallway.
Her phone was in her hand.
Marcus stopped.
“You weren't getting your phone.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“I was.””
“Then why did you slam that door?””
She looked behind her.
At the nursery.
Marcus followed her gaze.
The nursery door was open.
He had locked it himself three years ago.
He slowly approached.
Vanessa moved in front of it.
“Don't go in there.””
Marcus stopped.
“Why?””
“Because it's private.””
“My daughter is missing.””
“Marcus—”
“My daughter.””
His voice shook the hallway.
“Move.””
Vanessa didn't.
Marcus pushed past her.
The nursery smelled exactly as he remembered.
Lavender.
Old wood.
Baby powder.
The crib still stood against the wall.
A faded mobile hung above it.
One tiny stuffed elephant remained on a shelf.
Marcus walked farther inside.
Everything was covered in a thin layer of dust.
Except the floor near the closet.
There were fresh footprints.
Adult-sized.
Marcus crouched.
“Someone was here.””
Vanessa said nothing.
Grace stood in the doorway.
Marcus followed the footprints.
They stopped at the closet.
He opened it.
Empty.
He looked down.
A small rectangular panel was set into the floor.
He pulled it open.
Inside was a black metal case.
Marcus lifted it out.
Vanessa's voice became frantic.
“Put that down.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You know what this is.””
“No.””
“You just told me not to touch it.””
“I said you shouldn't open it.””
“Why?””
Vanessa backed away.
“Because some things are better left buried.””
Marcus stared at the case.
Then he unlocked it.
Inside were folders.
Bank statements.
Photographs.
Receipts.
And a stack of handwritten notes.
He picked up the first photograph.
It showed Ava at the playground.
Another showed Ava entering school.
Another showed her sleeping in the back seat of Marcus's car.
Marcus's stomach turned.
Someone had been watching his daughter.
For how long?
He grabbed the next folder.
Three years of payments.
Every month.
Same account.
Same recipient.
Thousands of dollars.
He looked at Vanessa.
“Who is Daniel Cole?””
She didn't answer.
Marcus held up the bank statement.
“Who is Daniel Cole?””
Vanessa began to cry.
“I can explain.””
“Who?””
“He worked security.””
“Here?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“After your wife died.””
Marcus looked down at another photograph.
Daniel stood outside the house.
Beside him was a younger Vanessa.
And beside Vanessa—
Marcus froze.
A woman.
A woman he recognized.
His wife's sister.
“Why is Sarah in this picture?””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“You remember her?””
“She's dead.””
“I know.””
“She died two years ago.””
Vanessa said nothing.
Marcus looked through the photographs again.
Sarah appeared in more than one.
At the house.
At the school.
With Ava.
He turned another page.
His hands began to shake.
There was a photograph of Sarah holding a document.
Written across the bottom in red ink were six words.
*She knows what really happened.*
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“What really happened?””
Vanessa's crying stopped.
He stepped closer.
“Did Sarah know why my wife died?””
Vanessa backed into the wall.
“Marcus…”
“Answer me.””
She looked at the floor.
Then whispered:
“Your wife wasn't supposed to die.””
The room went silent.
Marcus's face went blank.
“What did you say?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“She was supposed to leave the house that night.””
Marcus's voice turned dangerously quiet.
“You knew.””
“I knew she was going to confront me.””
“About the money?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“About Ava.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What about Ava?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Before she could speak, Marcus's phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared in a new message.
Ava.
She was sitting in the back seat of a car.
Her eyes were wide.
Her hands were tied with a pink scarf.
May you like
Underneath the photo was one sentence:
*Come to the old boathouse alone, or you will never see your daughter again.*
