Chapter 4: The Voice Behind the Door
“Maya?””
The voice came from somewhere beyond the narrow hallway.
Maya stood frozen on the porch, clutching the faded photograph against her chest. The afternoon sunlight illuminated her face, but suddenly she felt cold all over.
Eli moved in front of her.
“Get behind me,” he whispered.
“Who is that?”” Maya asked.
“Quiet.””
“Eli, who is inside this house?””
He didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the hallway, and his fingers curled into fists at his sides.
Nia pulled Jordan toward the far corner of the room.
“Come here,” she whispered.
Jordan shook his head.
“Is somebody going to take us away?””
“No,” Nia replied, although her voice trembled.
Maya looked from the children to Eli.
“Why are you acting like you're afraid of whoever that is?””
Eli swallowed.
“Because I don't know why they're here.””
A floorboard creaked again.
Then a man's voice spoke from the hallway.
“I'm not here to hurt anybody.””
Eli's expression hardened.
“You said that last time.””
Silence followed.
Maya stared at him.
“Last time?””
Before Eli could answer, a middle-aged Black man stepped into the sunlight streaming through a broken window. He wore a navy jacket, dark trousers, and polished shoes that looked strangely out of place in the ruined house. A leather folder rested beneath his arm.
His eyes moved from Eli to Nia and Jordan.
Then they settled on Maya.
He stopped.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Finally, he whispered, “You really do look like her.””
Maya tightened her grip on the photograph.
“Who are you?””
The man removed his jacket, folded it over one arm, and carefully placed his leather folder on a broken table.
“My name is Daniel Brooks. I knew your mother.””
Maya felt her stomach twist.
“Everybody keeps saying that. How?””
Daniel glanced at Eli.
Eli shook his head sharply.
“Don't,” the boy warned.
Daniel ignored him.
“Maya, your mother asked me to find you if you ever came to this house.””
“Then why didn't you come to my school?””
“Because she specifically told me not to approach you there.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the photograph in her hands.
“Because she wanted you to discover this place on your own.””
Maya let out a disbelieving laugh.
“That doesn't make any sense. My mother doesn't keep secrets from me.””
Daniel's expression softened, but he didn't look convinced.
“Perhaps you know a different part of her story.””
Maya stepped toward him.
“Are you saying my mother lied to me?””
“I'm saying there are things she never explained.””
“Then explain them now!””
Her voice cracked against the old walls.
Daniel opened his mouth, but Eli moved between them.
“You can't just come in here and start telling her things.””
Daniel turned toward him.
“I have a responsibility to—”
“You had a responsibility three months ago!””
The words exploded from Eli.
Nia covered Jordan's ears.
Daniel went still.
Maya stared at the boy.
“What happened three months ago?””
Eli's chest rose and fell rapidly.
Daniel picked up his folder.
“Your mother left something here,” he said carefully.
“Something important. I came to make sure it was still safe.””
Maya looked at the photograph.
“You mean this?””
“No.””
“Then what are you talking about?””
Daniel glanced toward a boarded window.
“Something that belongs to you.””
Maya felt her patience snap.
“If one more person tells me that I own something without explaining what it is, I'm leaving.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“That would be your choice.””
Eli looked alarmed.
“Maya, wait.””
She turned to him.
“You knew this man was coming?””
“No.””
“But you know what happened three months ago.””
Eli's eyes filled with tears.
“I know what happened to us.””
He gestured toward Nia and Jordan.
“I know what it's like to wake up and find out somebody promised to come back, and then they don't. I know what it's like to tell two little kids everything is going to be okay when you don't even know where dinner is coming from.””
His voice broke.
“I don't know what your mother wanted you to find. I only know she told me to keep the children together.””
Maya stared at him.
For the first time, Daniel seemed ashamed.
He set the folder down again.
“Eli is right about one thing,” he said.
“I should have come sooner.””
“Then why didn't you?”” Maya demanded.
Daniel looked directly at her.
“Because three months ago, your mother disappeared.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Maya shook her head.
“No. My mother is home.””
Daniel said nothing.
“She was home this morning,” Maya insisted.
“She packed my lunch. She told me to hurry because I was going to be late. I saw her.””
Daniel's face changed.
“What time?””
Maya blinked.
“What?””
“What time did you see her this morning?””
“Seven. Maybe seven fifteen.””
Daniel reached for his phone.
Eli grabbed his wrist.
“Don't call anyone.””
Daniel pulled his arm free.
“Eli, this is serious.””
“You don't get to decide that anymore!””
Maya stepped between them.
“Stop!””
Both men fell silent.
She looked at Daniel.
“My mother is at home. If you're saying she's missing, then you're either mistaken or you're lying.””
Daniel slowly lowered his phone.
“Then call her.””
Maya didn't hesitate.
She pulled out her phone and selected her mother's number.
The call rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then her mother's familiar voice filled the room.
“Hi, sweetheart. Leave me a message, and I'll call you back.””
Maya's shoulders relaxed.
“See?”” she said, turning toward Daniel.
“She's fine. She's probably busy.””
But Eli wasn't looking at her.
He was staring at the phone.
His face had gone pale again.
Maya ended the call and frowned at him.
“What?””
Eli swallowed.
“Play it again.””
“Why?””
“Please.””
Maya pressed the number and activated the speaker.
Her mother's recorded greeting played again.
“Hi, sweetheart. Leave me a message, and I'll call you back.””
Eli shook his head.
“No.””
Maya's heartbeat quickened.
“What are you hearing?””
Eli looked at Daniel.
Then he turned back to Maya.
“That's not your mother's voice.””
Maya stared at him in disbelief.
“Yes, it is!””
“No,” Eli whispered.
“It isn't.””
Daniel slowly opened his leather folder and removed a small photograph.
He placed it beside Maya's childhood picture.
It showed Maya's mother standing outside the same abandoned house.
Her face was unmistakable.
But the date written on the back was three months old.
May you like
And beneath it, in her handwriting, were seven words that made Daniel's hands tremble.
*“If Maya hears my voice, it's too late.””*
