Chapter 8: Six O’Clock
The message stayed on my screen.
*You remember now. Come alone at 6:00 a.m., or Lily disappears.*
I read it three times.
My hands were cold.
My father was staring at the screen.
My mother had both hands over her mouth.
David looked like someone had just put a gun to his head.
I locked my phone.
“No one touches Lily.””
My voice sounded different now.
Calmer.
Sharper.
Something inside me had changed.
For months, everyone had been making decisions around me because they thought I didn't know enough to stop them.
That was over.
David stepped toward me.
“Sarah, you're not going anywhere alone.””
“I have to.””
“No.””
“They threatened Lily.””
“And that's exactly why you don't follow their instructions.””
I looked at him.
“Then what do you suggest?””
“We call the police.””
My father immediately said, “No.””
I turned.
“Why not?””
“Because we don't know who we're dealing with.””
“That sounds like a reason to call them.””
Dad shook his head.
“If the police get involved before the hearing, they could take Lily into protective custody.””
I stared at him.
“You're using the same threat again.””
“I'm telling you what could happen.””
“No. You're telling me what you want me to believe.””
He didn't respond.
I looked at Ethan.
He was standing near the entrance, listening.
“You said you represent Rachel's family.””
“Yes.””
“Can you get me into the courthouse before six?””
He considered it.
“I can get you an emergency appointment with the duty judge.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I need to know who is sending these messages first.””
Ethan nodded slowly.
“That makes sense.””
David looked at me.
“No, it doesn't.””
I turned.
“Why?””
“Because you're being manipulated.””
“Maybe.””
I looked at the video still on my phone.
“But the person sending it knows things only our family should know.””
David's expression tightened.
“You think it's one of us?””
“I think everyone in this room has lied to me.””
Nobody argued.
That was the worst part.
I looked at my mother.
“Mom, what did you do with the settlement money?””
She wiped her face.
“I transferred it.””
“To Rachel's family?””
“No.””
“Then where?””
She hesitated.
“To an account.””
“Whose?””
She looked at Dad.
He answered for her.
“Clara's.””
I turned toward my sister.
Clara looked terrified.
“You received the money?””
“It wasn't for me.””
“Then where is it?””
“I don't have it anymore.””
“Where did it go?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
I stepped closer.
“Clara.””
“I swear.””
“Where did it go?””
She finally whispered, “David took it.””
Every eye in the lobby turned toward him.
David went completely still.
“I did not.””
Clara started crying.
“You did.””
“Clara, don't.””
“You said you needed it.””
“For what?””
She looked at him.
“For the lawyer.””
I stared at David.
“You paid someone?””
He shook his head.
“I didn't know what the money was.””
“Then why did you take it?””
“I didn't.””
Clara wiped her cheeks.
“You took the envelope from Dad.””
David's jaw clenched.
“After the accident, your father gave me an envelope. He said it was for legal expenses.””
“Was there cash?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
He looked at the floor.
“Enough.””
My stomach turned.
“Where is it?””
“I gave it back.””
“To whom?””
David hesitated.
“I don't know.””
I stared at him.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It was three months ago.””
“You don't remember?””
“I remember giving it to someone outside a parking garage.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“What did they look like?””
“Man. Dark coat.””
My skin prickled.
“The same man from tonight?””
David shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Was there a car?””
David frowned.
“Yes.””
“What kind?””
“Black SUV.””
Ethan went quiet.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“We found one parked near the accident scene.””
My heart accelerated.
“Did it belong to Rachel's family?””
“No.””
“Whose?””
Ethan looked at Dad.
“Your family's security company.””
Nobody moved.
Dad's face hardened.
“That vehicle was used for business.””
“Who had it that night?”” Ethan asked.
Dad didn't answer.
I looked at him.
“Who?””
He finally said, “My son.””
I stared.
“My brother?””
“Yes.””
The mystery tightened like a wire around my chest.
My missing brother.
The threats.
The foundation money.
The accident.
The dashcam.
And now a black SUV.
“Where is he?””
Dad shook his head.
“I told you. I don't know.””
“Then call him.””
“He won't answer.””
“Try.””
Dad took out his phone.
He dialed.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Dad looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“What?””
He handed me the phone.
A message from my brother.
*Stop looking for me. You will make things worse.*
Below it was a photograph.
My heart stopped.
It showed Lily.
Sleeping.
My daughter.
In her bedroom.
At home.
I looked up.
“How?””
David immediately took my hand.
“Sarah.””
“They're watching the house.””
My mother started crying.
“No.””
I grabbed the phone.
“Look at the timestamp.””
The photograph had been taken eleven minutes earlier.
Eleven minutes.
While we were standing in this lobby.
Someone had been inside my home.
Or very close to it.
“Lily!””
I spun around.
She was still with my mother.
I ran to her.
“Baby!””
Lily looked up in confusion.
“Mommy?””
I dropped to my knees and hugged her.
“You're okay.””
She nodded.
“Why are you crying?””
I kissed her forehead.
“I'm not.””
But I was.
David crouched beside us.
“We're leaving.””
My father immediately said, “No.””
David turned on him.
“I'm done listening to you.””
“We can't take her home.””
“Then where?””
“Somewhere secure.””
“Your house?””
Dad nodded.
I stood.
“No.””
Everyone looked at me.
“I'm not taking my daughter anywhere you control.””
Dad's face tightened.
“Sarah, I'm trying to protect her.””
“You've done enough protecting.””
I looked at Ethan.
“Is there somewhere the court can put us?””
He nodded.
“I can arrange a secure hotel through the victim advocate's office.””
Dad said, “Absolutely not.””
I ignored him.
“Do it.””
Ethan took out his phone.
David looked at me.
“I'll go with you.””
I nodded.
Then I looked at my mother.
“You're coming too.””
She looked surprised.
“Why?””
“Because I want the truth.””
She nodded slowly.
Clara stood.
“I should come.””
“No.””
Her face fell.
“Sarah…”
“You've lied to me.””
“I know.””
“You can tell the truth from somewhere else.””
She lowered her eyes.
Dad stepped forward.
“What about me?””
I looked at him.
“You're staying here.””
He stared at me.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“You can't leave me behind.””
“I can.””
My voice was steady.
“Because I don't know whether you're protecting us or protecting yourself.””
His eyes filled with hurt.
But I didn't care.
Not yet.
David took Lily's hand.
“We need to go.””
We moved toward the exit.
Then Clara suddenly shouted.
“Wait!””
Everyone stopped.
She was staring at the video on my phone.
“Play it again.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“I heard something.””
“What?””
“The voice after mine.””
I replayed the final seconds.
Static.
My voice.
Clara's voice.
Then silence.
She shook her head.
“That's not right.””
“What?””
“The person speaking after me.””
She stepped closer.
“Turn it up.””
I did.
Static.
Then a faint sound.
A man's voice.
Almost impossible to hear.
But Clara immediately recognized it.
She whispered his name.
“Daniel.””
My father's face went white.
“That's impossible.””
I stared at him.
“Who's Daniel?””
No one answered.
“Dad?””
He swallowed.
“Daniel was Rachel's brother.””
My stomach dropped.
“Where is he?””
Dad didn't answer.
Ethan did.
“He died two years ago.””
Silence.
Clara shook her head.
“No.””
She pointed at the screen.
“That is his voice.””
Ethan frowned.
“That isn't possible.””
I listened again.
The voice came through the static.
Three words.
Barely audible.
*“Ask your brother.””*
My heart pounded.
“About what?””
Then the recording ended.
A new message appeared.
Not from the unknown number.
From my missing brother.
*You were never the target, Sarah.*
Another message arrived immediately.
*Lily was.*
May you like
And then a final one.
*Because she is Rachel's daughter.*
