Chapter 3: The Photograph
Arthur stared at the photograph as if it were a window into a stranger’s life.
There he was.
Asleep.
One arm thrown across the pillow. The blanket pulled to his chest. His face turned slightly toward the camera.
Whoever took the picture had been standing close enough to capture every detail.
Arthur looked at Victoria.
“You took this?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who did?””
“I don’t know.””
Detective Collins held the evidence bag between them.
“When we searched the purse, this was in an interior pocket.””
Arthur pointed at it.
“That's my bedroom.””
Victoria said nothing.
“Look at me.””
She slowly raised her eyes.
“Who took the picture?””
“I told you. I don’t know.””
Arthur stepped toward her.
“You expect me to believe someone walked into our bedroom, took a picture of me sleeping, wrote that message on the back, and somehow your purse became the perfect place to hide it?””
“I didn't put it there.””
“Then who did?””
Victoria pressed her lips together.
“I can’t tell you.””
Arthur froze.
“You can’t?””
She nodded.
“Why?””
“Because you’d never believe me.””
Arthur looked toward Detective Collins.
“She knows who did this.””
Victoria immediately shook her head.
“I didn’t say that.””
“You just did.””
“I said I can’t tell you.””
The detective's expression hardened.
“Ma’am, at this point, withholding information isn’t helping you.””
Victoria looked down at the floor.
Arthur felt his anger draining away, replaced by something colder.
Fear.
Not fear of Victoria.
Fear of whatever had been moving around his family without his knowledge.
He turned to Detective Collins.
“I want to know everything.””
She nodded.
“We’ll start with the insurance policy.””
Arthur looked at the evidence bag.
“You said it was opened three years ago.””
“Yes.””
“Three years ago, I was still with the same company. My salary was lower. We didn’t even have the house fully paid off.””
“I know.””
“How could someone insure me for five million dollars?””
“The policy wasn’t based solely on your salary.””
Arthur frowned.
“Then what was it based on?””
“Your assets.””
“What assets?””
Detective Collins opened a folder an officer had placed on the table.
“Your house. Your investment accounts. A business interest you hold. Several properties connected to a family trust.””
Arthur stared.
“My family trust?””
“You didn't know?””
Arthur slowly shook his head.
“No.””
Victoria suddenly stood.
“Arthur, you need to listen to me.””
He turned.
“Where did that trust come from?””
“Your father.””
“My father died eight years ago.””
“Yes.””
“And I never heard about another trust.””
Victoria looked at Detective Collins.
“Can we talk privately?””
“No,” Arthur said.
Victoria’s eyes widened.
“Arthur…”
“You’ve been lying to me for three years.””
“I was trying to keep you safe.””
“From what?””
She didn't answer.
He moved closer.
“You keep saying that. Safe from what?””
Victoria stared at him.
Then she whispered four words.
“Your father left instructions.””
Arthur felt a chill crawl up his back.
“What instructions?””
“I can’t tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because they were never meant for you.””
Arthur blinked.
“That makes no sense.””
“I know.””
“Then make it make sense.””
Victoria looked toward Lily.
The little girl had curled herself into the corner of the couch, clutching a stuffed rabbit.
Victoria's expression softened.
“Please take Lily upstairs.””
Arthur shook his head.
“She stays with me.””
“She doesn’t need to hear this.””
Arthur looked at his daughter.
After tonight, he wasn't letting her out of his sight.
“Whatever you have to say, say it here.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
Then the front doorbell rang.
Everyone stopped.
Arthur looked toward the entrance.
“It’s almost midnight.””
Another ring.
Longer this time.
Detective Collins immediately signaled the officers.
“Stay back.””
One officer moved toward the door.
Arthur whispered, “Who would come here now?””
Victoria suddenly looked terrified.
The officer checked the security monitor.
Then he turned.
“There’s a man outside.””
“Who?”” Arthur asked.
The officer hesitated.
“He says his name is Daniel Mercer.””
Victoria's face went completely white.
Arthur noticed.
“Who is Daniel Mercer?””
Victoria took a step backward.
“Arthur…”
“Who is he?””
“I need you to trust me.””
Arthur laughed.
“That's a little late.””
The doorbell rang again.
Detective Collins stepped toward Victoria.
“You know him.””
Victoria whispered, “Yes.””
“Who is he?””
Victoria looked at Arthur.
“He worked for your father.””
Arthur frowned.
“My father’s attorney?””
“No.””
“His accountant?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
Victoria’s voice almost disappeared.
“His security chief.””
Arthur stared at her.
“My father had a security chief?””
“You didn’t know everything about your father.””
The officer at the door called out.
“Detective, he says he has information about the insurance policy.””
Arthur's stomach dropped.
Detective Collins looked at Victoria.
“Should we let him in?””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
Arthur stared.
“Why not?””
“Because if Daniel is here…”
She stopped.
Arthur stepped forward.
“What?””
Victoria looked at him.
“He’s the reason I did it.””
The room went silent.
Arthur's face tightened.
“You mean he made you poison me?””
“No.””
“Then what are you saying?””
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“He told me what would happen if you found out the truth.””
Arthur stared at her.
“And what truth is that?””
Before she could answer, the front door opened.
Daniel Mercer stepped inside.
He was a tall man in his late fifties, wearing a dark coat damp from the rain.
He looked at Arthur first.
Then Victoria.
Then the evidence bag containing the photograph.
His expression changed.
“You found it.””
Arthur’s blood ran cold.
“You know what that is?””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then explain it.””
Daniel looked at Detective Collins.
“I need to speak with Mr. Hayes alone.””
“That’s not happening,” the detective said.
Daniel reached into his coat.
Two officers immediately drew their weapons.
“Slowly,” Detective Collins ordered.
Daniel raised both hands.
“I’m reaching for a phone.””
He pulled out an old black phone and placed it on the table.
Then he looked at Arthur.
“Your father recorded something before he died.””
Arthur stared at him.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“What did he record?””
Daniel glanced at Victoria.
Her face had collapsed into despair.
“He recorded a warning.””
Arthur stepped forward.
“What warning?””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“That one day, someone inside your home would try to kill you.””
Arthur looked at Victoria.
She began crying.
Daniel continued.
“Your father believed the person would not be a stranger.””
Arthur's voice was barely audible.
“Then who?””
Daniel reached for the phone.
Before he could touch it, Victoria screamed.
“No!””
She rushed toward him.
The officers stopped her.
“Stay back!””
Daniel looked at Arthur.
“She knows.””
Arthur stared at his wife.
“You knew about my father's warning?””
Victoria sobbed.
“Yes.””
“For how long?””
“Three years.””
“Three years?””
She nodded.
Arthur's voice broke.
“And instead of telling me, you let me live in this house while someone planned my death?””
Victoria cried harder.
“I was trying to stop it!””
Arthur stepped toward her.
“By killing me?””
“No!””
“Then explain!””
Victoria looked desperately at Daniel.
“He gave me an ultimatum.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“I gave you protection.””
“You gave me a deadline!””
Arthur looked between them.
“What deadline?””
Neither answered.
Arthur turned to Daniel.
“Tell me.””
Daniel slowly shook his head.
“Your father discovered that someone was siphoning money from the family trust.””
Arthur frowned.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at Victoria.
Arthur followed his gaze.
“No.””
Victoria whispered, “Arthur…”
“No.””
The detective stepped in.
“We need facts.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father discovered millions had been transferred out over several years.””
Arthur's heart pounded.
“Where did the money go?””
Daniel reached into his coat again and removed a folded bank statement.
“I traced some of it.””
Arthur took the paper.
His eyes moved across the transaction history.
Then stopped.
Recipient after recipient.
Transfers.
Shell companies.
Offshore accounts.
And beneath one sequence of transactions was a name.
*Victoria Hayes.*
Arthur’s hands began to shake.
“You stole from my family.””
Victoria covered her mouth.
“I borrowed it.””
“You stole it.””
“I was going to put it back.””
“When?””
“I swear—”
Arthur held up the document.
“You signed for these transfers?””
Victoria said nothing.
Arthur looked at Daniel.
“What happened to the missing money?””
Daniel's expression turned grim.
“Some of it is gone.””
“Gone where?””
“I don't know.””
Arthur looked back at Victoria.
“You do.””
She whispered, “Some of it went to someone who was threatening me.””
“Who?””
Victoria closed her eyes.
Arthur waited.
“Who was threatening you?””
Victoria opened her eyes.
Then she looked directly at Lily.
Arthur followed her gaze.
And the blood drained from his face.
“Don't,” he whispered.
Victoria spoke through trembling lips.
“They have been watching our daughter for months.””
Arthur felt the room tilt.
Detective Collins stepped forward.
“What do you mean, watching her?””
Victoria stared at Arthur.
“I wasn't trying to kill you because I wanted your money.””
“Then why?””
Her voice broke.
“I was trying to make them believe you were already dead.””
Arthur couldn't breathe.
He looked toward Lily.
The little girl was staring at them, confused and frightened.
Daniel quietly said, “And now that they know you survived…”
The lights in the house suddenly went out.
Lily screamed.
Somewhere upstairs, a window shattered.
Then a phone began ringing in the darkness.
Not Arthur’s.
Not Victoria’s.
The ringing was coming from Lily’s backpack.
May you like
And when Arthur grabbed it and pulled out the phone, the screen showed a single incoming message:
*WE KNOW SHE FAILED. NOW WE TAKE THE GIRL.*
