Chapter 8: The Second Photograph
Vanessa held the phone against her chest.
Marcus stopped several feet away.
Jordan looked from one face to another.
“What second photograph?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus's voice remained quiet.
“Show me.””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
“I can't.””
“You can.””
She shook her head.
“If I show you, everything changes.””
Marcus looked toward the black car.
“Everything already changed.””
A sharp metallic sound came from the rear of the showroom.
Jordan spun around.
“Who's back there?””
Nobody answered.
He walked toward the hallway leading to the service area.
Marcus said, “Don't.””
Jordan stopped.
“You think someone is hiding?””
Marcus nodded.
“I think someone wants us to think they're hiding.””
Jordan frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at the cameras mounted near the ceiling.
“It means we're being directed.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You figured that out?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Long before I walked in.””
Her expression tightened.
Jordan turned around.
“Then why did you come here?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Vanessa watched him.
“You knew the owner would react.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I expected him to.””
“You knew the car would be here.””
“I suspected.””
“And the key?””
Marcus held it up.
“I knew this would work.””
Jordan shook his head.
“You're not telling us anything.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Neither is she.””
Vanessa looked down.
The phone vibrated again.
She opened the message.
Her face changed.
Marcus saw it.
“Now what?””
She didn't respond.
Jordan moved toward her.
“Give me the phone.””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
“I said no.””
Jordan reached for it.
Vanessa pulled away.
The phone slipped from her hand.
It hit the marble floor.
The screen cracked.
The message remained visible.
*OWNER: IF HE OPENS THE SECOND PHOTO, TELL HIM THE TRUTH.*
Jordan stared.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“What truth?””
She slowly picked up the phone.
“I don't know.””
Marcus laughed once.
Not because anything was funny.
Because the answer was becoming absurd.
“You don't know.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with frustration.
“I was never supposed to know.””
“Then why are you still here?””
She looked at him.
“Because I was paid to stay.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“By whom?””
“The owner.””
“How much?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Enough.””
“For what?””
“To follow instructions.””
Jordan stared at her.
“That's it?””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“You think everybody gets to choose what they do?””
Jordan didn't answer.
Marcus looked at the damaged phone.
“What was in the second photograph?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I don't know.””
Marcus's patience disappeared.
“Then find out.””
He stepped toward the car.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
Marcus looked down at her hand.
She immediately released him.
“Please.””
That word changed the room.
Jordan stared at Vanessa.
Marcus looked at her face.
She wasn't arrogant anymore.
She wasn't managing the showroom.
She was afraid.
Marcus said, “Why are you protecting me?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I'm not.””
“Yes, you are.””
“I don't want you to get hurt.””
“Why?””
She looked away.
“I can't tell you.””
Marcus studied her.
Then he walked back to the vehicle.
He opened the rear passenger door.
Vanessa gasped.
“Marcus!””
He looked inside.
Nothing.
Only cream leather.
He checked the floor.
Nothing.
Then he noticed a tiny seam beneath the rear seat.
He ran his fingers along it.
A latch clicked.
Jordan stepped closer.
“What did you find?””
Marcus pulled the seat forward.
A narrow compartment appeared.
Inside was another envelope.
This one was white.
Marcus didn't touch it.
There was writing across the front.
Not his name.
A single sentence:
*HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE REMEMBERED.*
Jordan read it.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at the words.
Something flickered behind his eyes.
A memory trying to surface.
A sound.
A room.
A voice.
Then it vanished.
He stepped back.
Jordan noticed.
“You okay?””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus looked at her.
She pointed at the envelope.
“You shouldn't have found that.””
“Why?””
“Because nobody was supposed to find it.””
Marcus crouched.
He picked up the white envelope.
Vanessa whispered, “Stop.””
He opened it.
Inside was the second photograph.
Marcus pulled it out.
He looked at it.
His breathing stopped.
Jordan leaned over his shoulder.
Then froze.
The photograph showed Marcus standing inside this same showroom.
But this time, the date printed in the corner was only three months earlier.
Marcus was wearing the same faded jeans.
The same dark work shirt.
The same worn boots.
He was standing beside the black luxury car.
And beside him stood Vanessa.
Jordan looked at Vanessa.
“You were with him.””
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“I…”
Marcus turned the photograph around.
On the back, written in black ink, were six words:
*You already came here once, Marcus.*
Marcus stared at the sentence.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“You remember this?””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because you told me not to.””
Marcus went completely still.
Jordan whispered, “What?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“You were here three months ago.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What did I say?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“You asked me one question.””
“What question?””
She looked toward the black car.
Then back at him.
“You asked me…”
Her voice broke.
“…who was sitting in the driver's seat when the owner died.””
May you like
The showroom fell silent.
Then the driver's seatbelt suddenly clicked into place by itself.
