Chapter 7: The Man in the Security Photograph
For fourteen years, I had believed there were only three people who knew the full story of Noah's birth.
Rebecca.
Me.
And the doctor who delivered him.
Now a fourth person was standing in a photograph beside my wife, carrying a box that belonged to my dead first wife.
Ethan Cole.
I stared at the image Officer Harris had shown me.
The man was in his early forties, with dark hair, a narrow face, and a small scar above his left eyebrow.
I recognized him.
Not because I had met him before.
Because I had seen his face in a photograph Rebecca had once kept inside her bedside drawer.
Back then, I had asked her who he was.
She had simply said, "Someone from a part of my life I don't want to revisit.""
I had respected her privacy.
Now I wished I hadn't.
“Do you know him?”” Officer Harris asked.
I nodded slowly.
“I've seen his picture before.””
“Where?””
“In my first wife's belongings.””
Daniel stood behind us, looking pale.
“That's Ethan?””
I turned.
“You know him?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No. But Vanessa mentioned his name.””
“When?””
“About a month ago. She asked if I'd ever heard of someone called Ethan Cole. I said no.””
Officer Harris enlarged the security image.
“Does anyone know where this man lives?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Vanessa was standing beside Ethan.
She wasn't crying.
She wasn't frightened.
She was smiling.
The silver box was in his hands.
Whatever she had told the officers about having no idea where the box was, it was now obvious that she had known exactly where it had gone.
And she hadn't been acting alone.
“Can you contact the facility manager?”” I asked.
Officer Harris nodded.
“I'll request the original footage and access records.””
He stepped away to make a call.
I turned to Daniel.
“How long has Vanessa been meeting him?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't give me that.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Marcus, I swear I don't know. But I heard her talking to someone on the phone several times. She always went outside to answer.””
“Did you hear his name?””
“Once.””
“What did she say?””
He swallowed.
“She said, 'I have the papers. All we need now is the original letter.''”
My stomach tightened.
“What original letter?””
“The one from Rebecca.””
I looked toward the storage unit.
“So that's why she took the box.””
Daniel nodded.
“I think so.””
I called my mother.
She answered on the second ring.
“Marcus? What's happening?””
“Is Noah okay?””
“He's sitting with Lily. They're watching television.””
“Has anyone come to the house?””
There was a pause.
“Actually, yes.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Who?””
“A woman named Patricia. She said she was a friend of Vanessa's.””
“Did you let her in?””
“No. She said she needed to speak with Lily, but I told her that wasn't happening.””
“Did she leave?””
“Yes, but she gave me an envelope.””
My heart began pounding.
“What envelope?””
“She said it was something Vanessa wanted the children to have.””
I closed my eyes.
“Mom, don't open it. Don't let anyone touch it. I'll be home soon.””
“What is going on?””
“I'll explain everything when I get there.””
I ended the call.
Officer Harris returned.
“The facility manager has preserved the footage. We're arranging to obtain the original recording. We also have a possible address for Ethan Cole.””
“Where?””
“An apartment complex about twenty minutes from here.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Let's go.””
Officer Harris shook his head.
“I'm going to handle that contact. You should return home and stay with your children.””
I wanted to argue.
But he was right.
My children needed me more than I needed another confrontation with Vanessa's accomplice.
On the drive home, my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“Where is the box?”” I asked.
Her voice was quiet.
“Marcus, we need to talk.””
“I'm listening.””
“Not over the phone.””
“You've had seven years to talk to me.””
She sighed.
“Ethan has nothing to do with Noah.””
“Then why was he carrying Rebecca's box?””
Silence.
“Vanessa?””
“Because he was helping me.””
“With what?””
“With something you were never supposed to find.””
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
“What exactly was I never supposed to find?””
She began crying.
“Please don't let the police get involved with this.””
“They're already involved.””
“Marcus, listen to me. Ethan is dangerous.””
I almost laughed.
“You're the one who brought him into my family.””
“You don't understand. He threatened me.””
“Then why were you smiling beside him?””
She went silent.
I continued.
“You planted money in Noah's backpack. You forged documents. You stole his mother's belongings. And now you're telling me someone threatened you?””
“I did what I had to do.””
“For what?””
Her voice dropped.
“To protect Lily.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“From Noah?””
“No. From what Noah's existence could expose.””
Before I could respond, she ended the call.
I arrived home ten minutes later.
My mother met me at the door.
She handed me the envelope.
It was addressed to Lily and Noah.
There was no return address.
I opened it carefully.
Inside were two photographs.
The first showed Rebecca holding a newborn baby.
The second showed Ethan standing beside her.
On the back of the second photograph, someone had written:
Some truths are better left buried.
Beneath the photographs was a short handwritten note.
Marcus, if you're reading this, Vanessa has found Ethan. Do not let her give him the original letter. It contains the truth about the night Noah was born.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
Rebecca.
My hands began shaking.
At the bottom was a date.
It was written three weeks before Rebecca died.
I looked toward the living room.
Noah stood in the doorway.
“Dad?””
I held up the photographs.
“Where did you see this man?””
Noah pointed at the second photograph.
“That's him.””
“Where?””
He hesitated.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
“I saw him outside my school last month.””
I stared at my son.
“What?””
“He was sitting in a black car. He waved at me.””
“Did you speak to him?””
Noah shook his head.
“He told me he knew my mother.””
My heart pounded.
“What did he say?””
May you like
Noah looked down.
“He said he was my real father.””
