Chapter 5: The Little Girl in the Photograph
"Disappeared?""
I repeated the word because my mind refused to process it.
Rachel, the caseworker, spoke quickly.
"Her temporary caregiver reported her missing about forty minutes ago. We contacted the police, and they're searching the surrounding area.""
"Was she alone?""
"She was supposed to be at school. Her caregiver received a call saying someone had arrived to collect her.""
"Who?""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
I looked at Michael.
His face had changed.
He was no longer pretending to be confused.
He looked terrified.
"Did someone sign her out?"" I asked.
Rachel hesitated.
"Yes. The person presented a document authorizing the release.""
"Whose name was on it?""
"Your brother's.""
I slowly lowered the phone.
Michael took a step backward.
"Daniel—"
"Did you take Sophie?""
"No.""
"Then why does your name appear on the release document?""
"I didn't sign anything.""
Vanessa suddenly moved toward the front door.
Eleanor noticed.
"Mrs. Carter, where are you going?""
"Home.""
"This is your home.""
"Not anymore.""
She reached for the handle.
I stepped in front of her.
"You're not leaving until you explain what you know.""
She glared at me.
"Move.""
"Who took Sophie?""
"I don't know!""
"Then why are you trying to leave?""
Her eyes filled with tears, but there was no remorse in them.
"Because I can't do this anymore, Daniel.""
She pushed past me and rushed outside.
I didn't follow.
Michael was still standing beside the coffee table.
I raised my phone.
"Rachel, please send me the document Sophie was released with.""
"Of course. But Mr. Carter, there's another concern.""
"What?""
"Her caregiver said Sophie had been asking about her biological father for several weeks.""
I looked at Michael.
Rachel continued.
"She reportedly told the caregiver that a man had promised to take her somewhere safe.""
My brother sat down heavily.
I ended the call.
"Who promised her that?""
Michael stared at the carpet.
"Daniel...""
"Who?""
"Vanessa.""
The room went silent.
I took a step toward him.
"Why would Vanessa promise a little girl something like that?""
Michael's voice dropped.
"She told Sophie that if she cooperated, she could finally live with her father.""
I felt a wave of anger.
"You haven't even been approved for custody.""
"I know.""
"Then what were you planning?""
Michael rubbed his face.
"We were trying to arrange something privately.""
"Using stolen money?""
He didn't answer.
Eleanor closed her folder.
"Mr. Carter, I recommend we contact the police immediately and provide them with everything we have.""
I nodded.
"Do it.""
Michael suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Please. Don't turn this into something bigger.""
I looked down at his hand.
Then back at his face.
"You already made it bigger when you involved two children.""
He released me.
At that moment, Maya appeared again.
She was carrying a drawing.
"Daddy?""
I turned.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She approached cautiously.
"Can I show you something?""
"Always.""
She held up the paper.
It showed three people standing beneath a yellow sun.
Me.
Maya.
And a woman with dark hair.
Above the woman, she'd written MOMMY.
I smiled sadly.
"That's beautiful.""
Maya pointed at the other side of the drawing.
There was another little girl.
"Who's this?"" I asked.
Maya shrugged.
"I don't know her name.""
"Have you seen her before?""
She nodded.
"At the window.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What window?""
"The one in the house where Vanessa took me.""
I looked at Eleanor.
Then at Michael.
"What house?""
Maya hugged her teddy bear.
"Yesterday. Vanessa said we were going to see somebody. But she told me not to tell you.""
I crouched.
"Sweetheart, what happened?""
Maya looked toward Michael.
"Uncle Michael was there.""
My brother's expression changed.
Maya continued.
"There was a little girl with yellow shoes. She was crying.""
I gently took her hand.
"Did you talk to her?""
"Yes. She asked if I knew her daddy.""
I swallowed.
"What did you say?""
"I said my daddy was nice.""
Maya paused.
"Then Vanessa told her that her daddy was coming soon.""
I looked at Michael.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
"Where was this house?"" I asked.
Maya pointed toward the front window.
"I don't know. But Vanessa took a picture of the street.""
Eleanor immediately picked up her phone.
"Daniel, do you have access to Vanessa's shared photo account?""
"I don't know.""
I pulled out my phone.
Vanessa and I had shared a family photo album for years. She had used it to store pictures of holidays, birthdays, and trips.
I opened it.
The most recent uploads were from the previous afternoon.
One photograph showed Maya standing beside a small girl wearing yellow shoes.
In the background was a blue house with a white fence.
I enlarged the image.
There was a street sign.
*WILLOW LANE.*
Eleanor typed something into her phone.
"There's a residential street with that name about twenty minutes from here.""
I called Rachel.
She agreed to send the location to the police.
Then I looked at Michael.
"You're coming with me.""
He shook his head.
"Daniel, I don't think that's a good idea.""
"You're going to tell the police everything you know.""
"Please.""
I moved closer.
"If Sophie is hurt, I will never forgive you.""
He finally stood.
We drove separately, with Eleanor following behind us.
The blue house stood at the end of a quiet residential street.
A silver car was parked outside.
I recognized it immediately.
Vanessa's car.
The front door was slightly open.
I ran up the steps.
"Vanessa!""
No answer.
I pushed the door.
Inside, the house smelled of fresh paint and cleaning products.
There were children's toys on the floor.
A small pink blanket lay across the couch.
And on the kitchen counter was a half-finished glass of orange juice.
I heard a noise upstairs.
A small voice.
"Is that Daddy?""
I froze.
Then I heard footsteps.
A little girl appeared at the top of the staircase.
Yellow shoes.
Dark hair.
The same face from Laura's photograph.
She looked directly at Michael.
"You're late," she whispered.
Michael's knees seemed to weaken.
"Sophie...""
The girl gripped the railing.
"Vanessa said you were coming to get me.""
Michael started climbing the stairs.
But before he reached her, Sophie stepped backward.
"Don't.""
He stopped.
She looked at me.
"Are you Daniel?""
I nodded.
She studied my face.
Then she asked the question that broke something inside me.
"Are you the man Mommy said would know my name?""
I couldn't speak.
Because I suddenly realized something.
Laura hadn't just wanted me to know Sophie existed.
She had wanted Sophie to know me.
May you like
And somewhere in that little girl's childhood, my name had become a promise.
A promise that I hadn't even known I was supposed to keep.
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