Chapter 13: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Maya stared at the photograph.
She couldn’t understand what she was seeing.
The face was older.
The hair was different.
But the eyes.
The eyes were unmistakable.
Daniel’s voice had confirmed what her mind refused to accept.
Her uncle was alive.
A man who had been dead before she was born.
A man standing beside Claire.
A man who somehow connected every secret her family had buried.
Maya picked up the photograph again.
The date was printed in the corner.
Taken three days ago.
Her hands began to shake.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Maya…”
“No.””
She looked at Marcus.
“Everyone keeps doing this.””
Her voice grew louder.
“Everyone keeps telling me impossible things.””
Nobody interrupted.
“My father was dead.””
She looked at Daniel.
“He wasn’t.””
“My mother was gone.””
She looked at the photograph.
“But she left secrets everywhere.””
Then she looked at the image.
“And now my uncle is alive?””
Her voice broke.
“How much of my life is real?””
The question hurt everyone in the room.
Especially Marcus.
He stepped forward.
“Maya.””
She looked at him.
“What?””
“I’m sorry.””
The apology was simple.
But after twenty-two years of lies, simple words weren’t enough.
“Sorry doesn’t tell me who my family is.””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“No.””
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
“I know that man.””
Maya turned.
“You do?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“His name was James Carter.””
Evelyn looked shocked.
“James?””
Daniel looked at her.
“You knew him?””
Evelyn’s face changed.
“I thought he was dead.””
Maya looked between them.
“Everybody thought he was dead.””
Daniel pointed at the photograph.
“But he was the person who helped me when I was trying to find your mother.””
Maya froze.
“What?””
Daniel continued.
“He contacted me years ago.””
Marcus looked up.
“You said nobody helped you.””
Daniel looked at him.
“I said nobody helped me find Maya.””
The room went quiet.
Maya stepped closer.
“What did James tell you?””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“He told me someone close to your mother was hiding the truth.””
“Did he tell you who?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because he said if I knew everything, I would become the target too.””
Maya looked at the photograph.
“Target?””
Evelyn whispered:
“Claire.””
Everyone turned.
Evelyn stared at the image.
“She wasn’t working alone.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What do you mean?””
Evelyn’s face was pale.
“I mean Claire always had someone behind her.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“James.””
Evelyn nodded.
“But I don’t understand.””
Maya looked at her.
“What?””
“James was supposed to be protecting your mother.””
The sentence made no sense.
Maya looked at Daniel.
“Was he?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That silence said enough.
She walked toward the hidden room again.
There had to be more.
There was always more.
She searched through the blue folder.
Documents.
Notes.
Photographs.
Then she found a page folded inside the back cover.
Her mother’s handwriting.
*Maya, if you find this page, then James has returned.*
Maya stopped.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What does it say?””
She read aloud.
*Do not trust him because he is family. Family can be the easiest disguise.*
Everyone became silent.
Maya continued.
*James knew about Daniel. James knew about Claire. James knew about Marcus.*
Her breathing became faster.
*But he never told me the whole truth.*
Marcus whispered:
“Your mother suspected him.””
Maya looked at him.
“And you knew?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Then another line.
The final line.
*The person who started this is still looking for the one thing I hid.*
Maya looked around the room.
“What thing?””
Nobody answered.
Then her phone buzzed.
Another message.
From Claire.
*You found James. Good. Now ask him why your mother died.*
Maya stared.
Then another message appeared.
A location.
A place.
And a time.
Tonight.
Daniel looked at the screen.
“She wants us to come.””
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
“She wants us to think we’re following her.””
She looked at the photograph.
“She’s been controlling every step.””
Then Maya looked toward the door.
“We need James.””
May you like
Because for the first time, the person with answers wasn’t hiding.
He was waiting.
