Chapter 6: The Person Who Was Watching
Nobody moved.
The radio went silent.
But the words remained.
Tell her the truth.
Maya stared at Daniel.
Then at Vanessa.
Then at her father.
Every person in the room looked like they were carrying a piece of a puzzle she couldn’t see.
“Who was that?”” Marcus demanded.
Daniel didn’t answer.
Marcus grabbed the radio from his hand.
“I asked you a question.””
Daniel pulled back.
“You don’t understand.””
Maya stepped forward.
“No. Explain.””
Daniel looked at her.
And for the first time, his fear wasn’t hidden.
“Your mother knew this day would happen.””
Maya’s heart stopped.
“What day?””
“The day you found out.””
“Found out what?””
Daniel looked at the envelope.
“She knew someone close to your family would try to control the story.””
Marcus stared.
“You’re saying someone is lying?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
Maya looked at her father.
“Dad.””
Marcus looked away.
That hurt more than anger.
Because he had always looked at her.
Always.
Now he couldn’t.
Maya’s voice softened.
“What aren’t you telling me?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“When your mother started investigating Vanessa, I thought she was wrong.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You did?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“Because I thought I knew the truth.””
Maya shook her head.
“You keep saying that.””
She held up the phone.
“Mom didn’t disappear because she was confused. She disappeared because she found something.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“I know.””
Everyone froze.
Maya whispered:
“You know?””
Marcus looked devastated.
“I found out yesterday.””
The room exploded with silence.
“Yesterday?”” Maya repeated.
“You knew she was investigating?””
“Yes.””
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I wanted to protect you.””
Maya stepped back.
“No. You wanted to protect yourself.””
Marcus flinched.
Vanessa looked away.
The phone buzzed again.
A new message.
This time from Nia.
Maya opened it.
*MAYA, ASK YOUR FATHER ABOUT THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN.*
Marcus went completely still.
Vanessa whispered:
“No…”
Maya looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus didn’t speak.
Her voice became sharper.
“Dad.””
He looked at her.
And the pain on his face frightened her.
“Your mother and I made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Marcus looked at the floor.
“A mistake that someone has been using against us for seventeen years.””
Maya felt dizzy.
“What happened?””
Before Marcus could answer, the lights in the security office went out.
Complete darkness.
Someone screamed outside.
A chair moved.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Close.
Maya grabbed her mother’s phone.
“Dad?””
No answer.
“Dad?””
A hand grabbed her shoulder.
She screamed.
Then a familiar voice whispered:
“Maya, don’t make a sound.””
She froze.
It wasn’t Marcus.
It wasn’t Vanessa.
It was a woman’s voice.
A voice she had never heard before.
The emergency lights flickered on.
Everyone turned.
A woman stood near the doorway.
Older.
Tired.
Terrified.
Holding a folder against her chest.
Maya stared.
“Who are you?””
The woman looked at Marcus.
Then Vanessa.
Then finally at Maya.
“I’m the person your mother was trying to find.””
Nobody spoke.
The woman stepped forward.
“My name is Evelyn Carter.””
Marcus’s face went pale.
Maya looked at the photograph in her hand.
The same woman.
The woman standing beside her father.
Evelyn opened the folder.
Inside were documents.
Photos.
Records.
Evidence.
She looked directly at Maya.
“Your mother didn’t disappear because she was taken.””
Maya held her breath.
“Then why?””
Evelyn’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Because she discovered the truth about who your real enemy was.””
A phone started ringing.
Not Maya’s.
Not Marcus’s.
Not Vanessa’s.
A hidden phone inside Evelyn’s folder.
Everyone stared.
Evelyn looked down at the screen.
Her face changed.
The caller ID appeared.
*NIA JOHNSON.*
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And Maya whispered:
“She’s calling you.””
