Chapter 6: The Voice in the Dark
“Adrian?””
The voice came from the bottom of the stairs.
Mia buried her face against Adrian’s chest.
Claire raised her phone higher, its flashlight cutting a thin white path through the darkness.
Vanessa stood completely still.
Adrian whispered, “Who is that?””
Nobody answered.
The voice came again.
“Adrian, don’t make this harder than it has to be.””
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“I know that voice.””
Adrian looked at her.
“So do I.””
The basement door creaked open.
A man stepped onto the bottom stair.
The beam from Claire’s phone reached him.
He was wearing a dark jacket.
Gray shirt.
Black watch.
Mia suddenly gasped.
“Uncle Daniel.””
Adrian’s stomach dropped.
Daniel.
His older brother.
The man who had helped him buy the house.
The man who had stood beside him when Mia was born.
The man who had kissed Mia’s forehead at Christmas and brought her toys every year.
Daniel slowly raised both hands.
“Relax.””
Adrian tightened his grip around Mia.
“You stay there.””
Daniel stopped.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.””
Claire’s voice was sharp.
“Then why were you hiding in the basement?””
Daniel glanced toward Vanessa.
“And why is she looking at you like that?””
Vanessa’s lips parted.
“You…”
Daniel looked at her.
“Hello, Vanessa.””
The way he said her name made Claire’s skin crawl.
Adrian stared at his brother.
“You were here last night.””
Daniel didn’t deny it.
“Yes.””
“You were the person behind Sarah.””
“I was.””
Mia clung to Adrian.
“Daddy, I don’t like him.””
Adrian looked down.
“You don’t have to be near him.””
Daniel’s face tightened.
“Mia, I would never hurt you.””
She shook her head.
“You scared Mommy.””
Daniel went silent.
Claire stepped down one stair.
“Why were you following Sarah?””
Daniel looked at her.
“You saw the recording.””
“Yes.””
“Then you know.””
“We know you were there. We don't know why.””
Daniel took a breath.
“Because Sarah was about to destroy this family.””
Adrian stared.
“What does that mean?””
“She found out too much.””
“About what?””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She looked away.
Adrian’s voice hardened.
“Stop looking at her. Talk to me.””
Daniel slowly nodded.
“Fine.””
He stepped up one stair.
Adrian immediately shifted Mia behind him.
“Don't.””
Daniel stopped again.
“I’m not coming any closer.””
“Then answer the question.””
Daniel looked toward the ceiling.
“Sarah found financial records.””
Adrian frowned.
“What records?””
“Money moving out of your company.””
“What money?””
“Money belonging to your family.””
Adrian’s face tightened.
“I didn't authorize anything.””
“I know.””
“Then who did?””
Daniel glanced at Vanessa.
She whispered, “Daniel…”
He looked at her.
“You were supposed to stay out of it.””
Adrian turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew?””
“I knew something was wrong.””
“How long?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Not what you think.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Vanessa found out six months ago.””
Adrian looked at her.
“Six months?””
She nodded.
“There were transfers from the family account.””
“Who made them?””
Daniel answered.
“Me.””
The words echoed through the dark hallway.
Adrian stared at his brother.
“You stole from me?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I borrowed it.””
“For what?””
“To save the company.””
“What company?””
“Yours.””
Adrian’s laugh was hollow.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“You would've lost everything.””
“You should have told me.””
“You wouldn't have listened.””
“So you stole from me?””
“I did what I had to do.””
Claire folded her arms.
“And Sarah found out.””
Daniel nodded.
“She found the records.””
“And?””
“She confronted me.””
“Last night?””
“Yes.””
Adrian stared at him.
“What happened after that?””
Daniel’s expression darkened.
“She said she was taking Mia and leaving.””
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
“She said that?””
“Yes.””
“Because of the money?””
“No.””
Daniel looked at Mia.
“Because of what she believed was happening to her daughter.””
Mia moved closer to Adrian.
Claire’s voice became quiet.
“What did Sarah believe?””
Daniel hesitated.
“She believed someone had been getting close to Mia.””
“Who?””
“I didn't know.””
“You still don't?””
“I suspected Vanessa.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Adrian turned toward her.
“You suspected her?””
Daniel nodded.
“She was angry with Sarah. She resented her. She had access to Mia.””
Vanessa looked up.
“I never touched her.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You scared her today.””
“I lost my temper.””
“You crossed a line.””
Adrian looked between them.
“You both keep talking like this happened before today.””
Neither answered.
Adrian’s voice became colder.
“Tell me everything.””
Daniel took another breath.
“Three weeks ago, Sarah asked me if I'd noticed anything strange about Vanessa.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“Because Sarah hated me.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Because Mia had started avoiding you.””
Vanessa looked toward the floor.
“She was a difficult child.””
Mia flinched.
Adrian’s face hardened.
“Don't say another word about my daughter.””
Daniel continued.
“Sarah thought Mia was trying to tell her something.””
“What?””
“That someone had been standing outside her bedroom at night.””
Claire glanced toward Mia.
“Did you?””
Mia nodded slowly.
“Sometimes.””
Adrian’s heart sank.
“What did you see?””
“A shadow.””
“Every night?””
“No.””
“How many times?””
Mia looked at the floor.
“Four.””
Claire knelt beside her.
“Did the person speak to you?””
Mia shook her head.
“Did they come into your room?””
Another shake.
“Then what happened?””
“They stood at the door.””
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“You knew?””
“I knew Sarah was scared.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“You knew someone had been standing outside my daughter's room?””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I investigated.””
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“What did you find?””
Daniel looked toward the basement.
“Nothing.””
Claire immediately said, “That's a lie.””
Daniel looked at her.
“How would you know?””
“Because Sarah warned Adrian that the person had been inside the family for years.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“I didn't know who it was.””
“Did you see the shadow?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“The first time.””
Adrian stared.
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't want to frighten you.””
“That was my daughter.””
“I know.””
“You had no right.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“I know.””
For a moment, the only sound was the refrigerator humming in the kitchen.
Then Adrian asked the question that had been sitting between them.
“Why were you in the basement tonight?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Because I came to destroy something.””
Claire stiffened.
“What?””
“The original recordings.””
Mia looked confused.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Because someone else had access to them.””
Adrian stepped forward.
“Who?””
Daniel’s eyes moved toward Vanessa.
“She wasn't the only person with access to the cameras.””
Vanessa’s head snapped up.
“What?””
Daniel nodded.
“Someone copied the files.””
Claire frowned.
“When?””
“Before the birthday.””
“Who?””
Daniel didn't answer.
“Daniel.””
He swallowed.
“I don't know.””
Adrian stared at him.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
“Then why did you destroy the recordings?””
“Because the copied files could be used against Sarah.””
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at the phone in Claire's hand.
“Some of those recordings don't show what you think they show.””
Claire’s expression changed.
“Which ones?””
“The ones from Mia’s room.””
Adrian went completely still.
“What was recorded?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I never saw the footage.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because whoever copied it sent me a message.””
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“What message?””
Daniel reached into his jacket.
Vanessa gasped.
“Daniel, don't.””
He pulled out his phone.
The screen was cracked.
He unlocked it.
There was one message thread.
No name.
No profile picture.
Just a number.
Daniel handed the phone to Adrian.
The last message read:
*I know you took the money.*
Below it:
*I know you watched Mia.*
And beneath that:
*Tonight, everyone finds out.*
Adrian looked up.
“You received this tonight?””
“Yes.””
“Before the party?””
“Yes.””
“Then why stay?””
“Because I thought I could fix it.””
Claire shook her head.
“You came here to erase evidence.””
“To protect my brother.””
“From what?””
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“From the truth.””
The house suddenly creaked upstairs.
Everyone looked toward the ceiling.
Another sound followed.
A soft footstep.
Then another.
Adrian whispered, “Who's upstairs?””
Daniel stared at the staircase.
“I don't know.””
Vanessa took a step backward.
“There shouldn't be anyone.””
Claire switched off her phone flashlight.
Darkness swallowed the hallway.
Mia whispered, “Daddy…”
“I’ve got you.””
Another footstep.
Closer.
Then a child's bedroom door opened.
Mia’s face went white.
“That’s my room.””
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“You stay here.””
He started up the stairs.
Claire followed.
Vanessa remained frozen.
Daniel called after him.
“Adrian.””
He turned.
Daniel’s voice was barely audible.
“Don't turn on the lights.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever is up there wants you to see them.””
Adrian stopped halfway up the stairs.
Then, from Mia’s bedroom, a voice whispered:
“Adrian…”
He knew that voice.
It was Sarah.
And she sounded terrified.
Adrian ran upstairs.
When he reached the bedroom door, it slammed shut in front of him.
May you like
From inside came one final sentence.
“Your daughter wasn't the only one being watched.””
