Chapter 5: The Old Boathouse
Marcus read the message three times.
*Come to the old boathouse alone, or you will never see your daughter again.*
His fingers tightened around the phone.
Another photograph appeared.
Ava was still in the back seat.
Still wearing the pink cardigan from earlier.
Still holding herself as far into the corner as the seat belt would allow.
But there was something else in the image.
A clock on the dashboard.
8:49 PM.
Marcus looked at the clock on his phone.
8:52.
Three minutes.
“Daddy…”
The tiny voice came from somewhere behind the fear that had swallowed him whole.
He stared at the photograph.
Ava was looking directly at the camera.
Her eyes were wet.
Her mouth was covered with a strip of tape.
Marcus's breathing stopped.
Grace covered her mouth.
“Oh God.””
Vanessa took one step toward him.
“Marcus…”
He turned so fast she stumbled backward.
“Don't.””
“But—”
“You're not coming with me.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You can't go alone.””
The message appeared again.
*ALONE.*
Marcus looked toward the nursery door.
Then toward his daughter’s photograph.
“Who is Daniel Cole?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Who is he?””
“I don't know where he is.””
“That's not what I asked.””
“I haven't seen him in months.””
Grace stepped forward.
“Mr. Marcus, you can't go there by yourself.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I have no choice.””
“You'll get yourself killed.””
“Maybe.””
Grace's eyes widened.
“But I'm not leaving Ava there.””
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
Then stopped.
Something in the photograph bothered him.
He pulled it back out.
Zoomed in.
The rear seat.
The window.
The reflection.
Ava wasn't alone.
Someone was sitting beside her.
Only a shoulder was visible.
A dark coat.
A silver watch.
Marcus froze.
He knew that watch.
He had bought it himself.
Years ago.
For his wife's younger brother.
“That's impossible.””
Grace looked over his shoulder.
“What?””
Marcus enlarged the image again.
The silver watch was unmistakable.
A rectangular face.
Black leather strap.
Small crack across the glass.
He had seen it hundreds of times.
“No…”
Vanessa whispered something.
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
She was staring at the screen.
Her face had gone pale.
“You know that watch.””
She didn't answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Whose is it?””
Vanessa looked at him.
Then away.
“Vanessa.””
“I don't know.””
“Whose watch?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus grabbed the black metal case from the floor.
He opened the folder again.
Daniel Cole.
Payments.
Photographs.
Notes.
Then one receipt caught his eye.
*Security Consultation — D. Cole*
Below it was a signature.
Daniel Cole.
Marcus looked at the photograph.
Then at Vanessa.
“Daniel isn't in that car.””
She said nothing.
“Who is?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“I told you I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
Marcus turned toward the hall.
Grace followed.
“Where are you going?””
“The boathouse.””
“Which one?””
“The old one by the lake.””
Grace stopped.
“That place has been empty for years.””
Marcus kept walking.
“Exactly.””
Vanessa rushed after him.
“You can't go.””
Marcus stopped at the staircase.
“Why?””
She looked terrified.
“Because…”
She couldn't finish.
Marcus waited.
Vanessa wiped her cheek.
“Because that's where Sarah died.””
The house went silent.
Marcus slowly turned around.
“What?””
“Your wife's sister.””
“You told me Sarah died in a car accident.””
Vanessa looked down.
“I lied.””
Marcus felt the floor shift beneath him.
“When did she die?””
“Two years ago.””
“How?””
“She went to the lake.””
“Why?””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“She was looking for you.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?””
“She had something.””
“What?””
“A recording.””
He stepped down one stair.
“Of what?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Your wife.””
Marcus stopped.
“What did the recording say?””
“I never heard all of it.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because Sarah told me.””
Marcus's jaw clenched.
“What did she say?””
Vanessa looked toward the front door.
“She said your wife knew I had been stealing from you.””
Marcus said nothing.
“And she knew I had lied about the night she died.””
The words barely came out.
Grace stared at Vanessa.
“You knew?””
Vanessa ignored her.
Marcus moved closer.
“What did you lie about?””
“I told everyone your wife left the house alone.””
“She didn't?””
“No.””
Marcus's voice became a whisper.
“Who was with her?””
Vanessa looked directly into his eyes.
“I was.””
The silence that followed was enormous.
Marcus remembered the funeral.
The flowers.
The rain.
Ava holding his hand.
Vanessa standing beside him in black.
She had cried against his shoulder.
She had whispered that she was sorry.
She had told him the doctors said there was nothing anyone could have done.
All of it came crashing down.
“You were there.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you would find out.””
“What?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I can't tell you.””
Marcus took another step.
“You've already lied about the necklace.””
“I know.””
“You lied about Grace.””
“I know.””
“You lied about Sarah.””
“I know.””
“So what are you still hiding?””
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she whispered:
“Your wife didn't die because of the accident.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
“What?””
“She was poisoned.””
Grace gasped.
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“You're saying my wife was murdered?””
Vanessa began to cry.
“I didn't poison her.””
“But you were there.””
“Yes.””
“Who did?””
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I saw her drink something.””
“What?””
“Tea.””
“Who made it?””
“I did.””
Grace stepped back.
Marcus looked at Vanessa as if seeing a stranger.
“You made the tea.””
“Yes.””
“And she died.””
“I didn't know.””
“You knew something was wrong.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you say it was an accident?””
Vanessa covered her face.
“Because someone told me to.””
“Who?””
She lowered her hands.
“Daniel.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Daniel Cole.””
Vanessa nodded.
“He said if I told you, Ava would be next.””
Marcus stared at her.
“And you believed him?””
“He showed me photographs.””
“Ava?””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at his phone.
The photograph of Ava sat on the screen.
The same nightmare.
The same threat.
The same fear.
He stepped away from Vanessa.
“Then Daniel took Ava.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because Daniel isn't working alone.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Who is?””
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“I don't know.””
“You know.””
“I swear I don't.””
She reached for his arm.
Marcus pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
“Marcus, please.””
“You knew my wife was poisoned.””
“I didn't know she would die.””
“You made the tea.””
“I was forced.””
“By whom?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“By your wife's doctor.””
Marcus froze.
“What doctor?””
“Dr. Ethan Reed.””
The name meant nothing.
Marcus frowned.
“What does he have to do with Daniel?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Why would a doctor be involved?””
“I told you, I don't know.””
Marcus grabbed his car keys.
“Where is Daniel?””
Vanessa looked toward the window.
“He always used the old boathouse.””
Marcus started down the stairs.
“I'm coming.””
Vanessa followed.
He turned.
“No.””
“You can't leave me here.””
“You've spent three years keeping secrets from me.””
“I know.””
“You can spend another hour keeping them.””
“I’m trying to help you.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“You should have tried three years ago.””
He opened the front door.
Grace ran after him.
“Mr. Marcus!””
He turned.
“I'll take care of Ava.””
Grace's eyes filled.
“Bring her home.””
Marcus nodded.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
She was standing in the doorway.
For the first time, she looked completely defeated.
Marcus stepped into the driveway.
His phone buzzed.
A new message.
No photograph this time.
Just four words.
*Don't trust your driver.*
Marcus stopped.
He slowly looked toward the garage.
His longtime driver, Peter, was standing beside the waiting black sedan.
Peter raised a hand.
“Mr. Marcus?””
Marcus stared at him.
Peter's silver watch caught the porch light.
Marcus's heart dropped.
The same crack across the glass.
The same black leather strap.
The same watch from the photograph.
Peter smiled nervously.
“Are we going to the lake?””
Marcus looked at the car.
Then at Peter.
Then at Vanessa.
Nobody spoke.
Peter opened the rear door.
And from inside the dark car came a child's muffled cry.
“Daddy…”
Marcus's blood turned to ice.
He took one step toward the vehicle.
Then another.
Peter's smile disappeared.
May you like
His hand slowly moved inside his jacket.
And Marcus realized the man standing in front of him had been driving his family for eleven years.
