THE TRUTH BEGINS TO UNRAVEL
474 Words
Chapter 12: The Truth Begins to Unravel
Emily barely made it home before breaking down.
She locked the apartment door, slid to the floor, and stared at the photograph she had hidden in her bag.
The message was clear.
Someone wanted Olivia to believe the worst.
Emily picked up her phone and called Ethan.
"We can't keep this from her anymore," she said as soon as he answered.
"I know," Ethan replied quietly. "Meet me at the park near your apartment in thirty minutes."
When they met, the evening air was cool, and the park was almost empty.
Emily handed him the latest photograph.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"He got into my house," he muttered.
"That's what scares me the most. If he could leave this behind a picture frame, then Olivia isn't safe."
Ethan nodded grimly.
"We're telling Marcus everything. Tonight."
An hour later, the three of them sat in Marcus's office.
Marcus examined the photograph before placing it beside the others.
"Look at the dates," he said.
Emily leaned closer.
Every photograph had been taken when Olivia wasn't with them.
"This wasn't a coincidence," Marcus continued. "The stalker knew exactly when Olivia would be away."
"You think someone close to us is helping him?" Ethan asked.
Marcus sighed.
"It's a possibility."
Silence filled the room.
Then Marcus pulled out another document.
"I've been looking into the fake license plates and the scarred man."
"Did you find anything?" Emily asked.
"There was a man arrested years ago for stalking a wealthy family. He escaped before his trial and was never found."
Marcus slid an old newspaper clipping across the desk.
The black-and-white photograph was faded, but the scar on the man's face was unmistakable.
Emily gasped.
"It's him."
"The man's name is Victor Hale," Marcus said. "He was once employed by Ethan's family."
Ethan looked stunned.
"My family never mentioned him."
"They probably had a reason not to."
Before anyone could speak again, Ethan's phone rang.
It was Olivia.
He answered immediately.
"Olivia?"
Her voice was shaking.
"Ethan... someone was inside the house."
His face drained of color.
"What?"
"I came home early. The back door was open, and everything in our bedroom was a mess."
"We're on our way," Ethan said, already grabbing his keys.
The three of them rushed to the house.
Police officers were already outside when they arrived.
Olivia ran straight into Ethan's arms, tears streaming down her face.
"I was so scared," she whispered.
Emily hugged her sister tightly.
"We're here now."
One of the officers approached them.
"Nothing appears to have been stolen," he said. "But the intruder left something behind."
He held up a small white envelope.
On the front, written in red ink, were three names.
Olivia. Ethan. Emily.
Below them was a single chilling sentence:
"One of you is lying. Soon, everyone will know who."
- Writer
