Chapter 13
1000 Words
Writing
David couldn't take his eyes off the photograph.
The young man in the picture stood outside a building David didn't recognize. He looked older than the child in the photograph from twenty years ago, but there was something unmistakable about him.
The shape of his eyes.
The line of his jaw.
Even the way he stood.
David slowly looked at Michael.
“That's him.”
Michael didn't answer.
“My brother.”
“Yes,” Michael said quietly.
Sally moved closer to David.
“How can you be sure?”
David pointed at the photograph.
“Look at his face.”
Michael took the photograph from him and studied it.
“He's changed.”
“Of course he has. Twenty years have passed.”
Mrs. Matthews covered her mouth.
“My God.”
David turned toward her.
“You knew he was alive?”
“No.”
“Then why does this man look exactly like Dad?”
Mrs. Matthews shook her head.
“I don't know.”
David's phone vibrated again.
Everyone froze.
Another message.
DON'T TRUST MICHAEL.
David stared at the screen.
Michael noticed his expression.
“What did they say?”
David showed him.
For the first time, Michael looked genuinely frightened.
Sally noticed.
“Why would they say that?”
Michael didn't respond.
David stepped toward him.
“Tell me the truth.”
“I have.”
“No, you haven't.”
David held up the photograph.
“You said you saw my brother three years after he disappeared.”
Michael nodded.
“You said someone was watching him.”
“Yes.”
“You said you tried to protect him.”
“Yes.”
David's voice became sharper.
“Then why does someone want me to believe I shouldn't trust you?”
Michael looked away.
“I don't know.”
David stared at him.
“You're lying.”
Mrs. Matthews suddenly spoke.
“David, stop.”
He turned toward her.
“Why are you defending him?”
“I'm not.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
She looked at Michael.
Michael gave her a warning look.
But she shook her head.
“It's time.”
David waited.
Mrs. Matthews took a deep breath.
“Your father and Michael had a falling-out twenty years ago.”
David frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Michael wanted your father to tell the police about Rebecca.”
Michael interrupted.
“That wasn't the reason.”
Mrs. Matthews looked at him.
“Then tell him the real reason.”
Michael remained silent.
David's heart began pounding.
“What happened?”
Michael finally spoke.
“Your father believed Rebecca was still alive.”
David's eyes widened.
“What?”
“He thought she had escaped.”
“Where?”
“We didn't know.”
“Then why did you say she disappeared?”
“Because that's what everyone believed.”
David shook his head.
“This doesn't make sense.”
Michael looked at him.
“Your father spent years following clues. Every time he got close, someone erased the evidence.”
“Who?”
Michael hesitated.
“Your grandfather.”
David froze.
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Matthews looked down.
“Your father eventually confronted him.”
“And?”
“They argued.”
“About my brother?”
Michael nodded.
“Your father wanted the truth.”
David swallowed.
“What did my grandfather say?”
Michael's voice dropped.
“He told your father that some family secrets were never meant to be uncovered.”
Silence filled the room.
David looked at the photograph again.
“Then why is my brother alive?”
Michael didn't answer.
David's phone vibrated once more.
This time there was a picture.
It showed a dark road.
Then another message appeared.
HE'S WAITING.
David's heart raced.
“Where?”
A location appeared beneath the message.
David stared at it.
Sally immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“I have to go.”
“You don't know who sent that.”
“But I know they're connected to my brother.”
Michael stepped forward.
“I'll come with you.”
David looked at him.
“Even though they told me not to trust you?”
Michael nodded.
“Especially because of that.”
Mrs. Matthews grabbed David's hand.
“Please be careful.”
David looked at her.
“I'll come back.”
She nodded, tears filling her eyes.
Sally stepped beside him.
“I'm coming too.”
David didn't argue.
Michael opened the door.
Before they could leave, Mrs. Matthews called out.
“David!”
He turned.
She was holding the old letter.
“There was something else in your father's box.”
“What?”
She handed him another folded piece of paper.
David opened it.
Three words were written across the page.
HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.
David looked at Michael.
“Who?”
Michael's face suddenly changed.
He stared at the handwriting.
“I've seen this before.”
“Where?”
“On the letters your father received.”
David's stomach tightened.
“So the same person has been contacting Dad for twenty years?”
Michael nodded.
“And now they're contacting me.”
A car engine suddenly roared outside.
Everyone turned toward the window.
A black vehicle sped past the house.
Michael's expression hardened.
“They know we're leaving.”
David looked at Sally.
Then at the photograph.
His brother was alive.
Someone knew where he was.
And whoever had been controlling the truth for twenty years was finally running out of time.
David stepped through the doorway.
“This ends tonight.”
Michael followed.
Sally stayed close beside him.
Behind them, Mrs. Matthews watched from the doorway.
She knew something David didn't.
Something she'd kept hidden for twenty years.
And as the car disappeared into the darkness, she whispered to herself:
“I'm sorry, David.”
Then she looked down at the photograph of Rebecca.
“Your mother never wanted you to find him.”
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