Chapter 11: The Search
I don’t remember driving home.
I remember the road.
I remember the traffic lights.
I remember gripping the steering wheel so hard my hands hurt.
But everything else was a blur.
Nia.
Missing.
That was the only thought in my head.
When I pulled into the driveway, Rachel was already there.
She ran toward me.
“Ethan.””
“Where is she?””
She shook her head.
“We don’t know.””
My entire body went cold.
“What do you mean you don’t know?””
“She left school an hour ago.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“She knows better.””
Rachel looked at me.
“Ethan…”
“She wouldn’t just leave.””
Then I saw it.
Something on the porch.
A blue cardigan.
Nia’s cardigan.
The one she always carried.
I picked it up.
My hands started shaking.
“She wouldn’t leave this.””
Rachel looked around.
“Did anyone contact you?””
I checked my phone.
Nothing.
Then another thought hit me.
Vanessa.
I grabbed my phone.
I called.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
On the third call, she picked up.
“Hello?””
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Where is my daughter?””
Silence.
Then:
“Excuse me?””
“Don’t play games.””
“Ethan, I have no idea what you’re talking about.””
My anger exploded.
“If anything happens to her—”
“You’re blaming me?””
“Yes.””
She laughed softly.
And that sound made my stomach turn.
“You always assume the worst about me.””
“Where is Nia?””
“I told you. I don’t know.””
I lowered my voice.
“Vanessa.””
“What?””
“You know something.””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Maybe you should have listened when I warned you.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Rachel stepped closer.
“What did she say?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I already knew.
This wasn’t random.
This was a message.
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
They asked questions.
When did I last see her?
Who had access to her?
Was there anyone who might want to harm her?
Every answer led back to one person.
Vanessa.
But without proof, suspicion wasn’t enough.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
My heart stopped.
I opened it.
A photo.
Nia.
Sitting in a room.
She looked scared.
But she was alive.
Below the photo were five words.
*Stop fighting. Let her go.*
I showed Rachel.
Her face changed.
“Ethan…”
I zoomed in on the picture.
There was something in the background.
A painting.
A lamp.
A familiar wall.
I stared.
Then I knew.
“This isn’t a random place.””
Rachel looked at me.
“You recognize it?””
“Yes.””
My voice became quiet.
“It’s Vanessa’s old house.””
The police immediately moved.
But before we left, another message arrived.
This time, from Vanessa.
*I told you I could make you lose everything.*
I stared at those words.
And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid.
I was furious.
Because Vanessa had made one mistake.
She underestimated what a father would do for his child.
When we arrived at the house, the door was unlocked.
Too easy.
That worried me.
I entered first.
“Vanessa?””
No answer.
The house was empty.
But upstairs, we found a room.
A room filled with papers.
Research.
Photos.
Notes.
Everything about me.
Everything about Nia.
And on the desk was a folder.
My name was written on it.
I opened it.
Inside was a document.
A legal document.
A guardianship agreement.
Already prepared.
My blood ran cold.
Because the signature at the bottom wasn’t Vanessa’s.
It was mine.
Except I had never signed it.
Rachel grabbed it.
“Ethan…”
“What?””
She looked terrified.
“This isn’t just about custody.””
“Then what is it?””
She pointed to the final page.
And I saw the name listed as the beneficiary.
Not Vanessa.
Not Nia.
May you like
Someone else.
Someone I never expected.
