Chapter 7: The Shadow Inside My Home
For a few seconds, I forgot how to breathe.
Daniel’s words stayed in my ear.
“It came from your house.””
My eyes moved slowly across the room.
The couch.
The coffee table.
The family photos.
The same place where my son played with his red toy car.
The same place where I thought we were safe.
“You’re sure?”” I asked.
Daniel didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Could it be a mistake?””
“No.””
His voice became quieter.
“Nia, the system didn’t just record a location. It recorded the device.””
I looked at Marcus.
He was watching my face.
“What device?”” I asked.
Daniel paused.
“Your phone.””
The room suddenly felt too small.
“My phone?””
“Yes.””
I looked down at the device in my hand.
The same phone I used to call for Evelyn’s access removal.
The same phone that held my father’s messages.
The same phone that had been with me every step of the way.
“That’s impossible,” I whispered.
Daniel’s voice softened.
“I know what you’re thinking.””
“No, you don’t.””
I stood up.
“You’re saying someone used my phone.””
“I’m saying the login came from your device.””
I looked at Marcus.
His face had changed.
He wasn’t confused.
He was worried.
And that scared me more.
“Daniel,” I said, “what happens if someone accessed the trust?””
A long silence.
Then:
“They may have seen information your father wanted hidden.””
My chest tightened.
“What information?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Because he knew.
The same thing everyone kept hiding.
The truth.
I ended the call slowly.
Marcus stood.
“Nia.””
I looked at him.
“Did you know?””
His expression changed.
“Know what?””
“That someone could access my phone.””
“No.””
“You hesitated.””
“Because I know something worse.””
I waited.
Marcus looked toward the window.
“Your father didn’t trust technology.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means he trusted people.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“People like Evelyn?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
He looked directly at me.
“People like family.””
The word hurt.
Because family was supposed to be the safest place.
Not the place where you searched for threats.
I walked toward the kitchen counter and placed my phone down.
“Tell me everything.””
Marcus didn’t move.
“I can’t.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because I made a promise.””
“To who?””
He looked away.
I already knew.
“Evelyn.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The anger came back instantly.
“You promised her?””
“She was protecting someone.””
“Again with that.””
I stepped closer.
“Everyone keeps saying she was protecting someone. Nobody says who.””
Marcus was silent.
Then my phone lit up.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I picked it up.
One sentence.
*Stop digging, or you’ll lose the only thing your father died trying to protect.*
My blood ran cold.
Marcus saw the screen.
“What did it say?””
I showed him.
His face changed completely.
“That’s not good.””
I looked at him.
“You know who sent it.””
“No.””
“You do.””
He shook his head.
“I know the wording.””
“What does that mean?””
Marcus swallowed.
“It means whoever sent this knows your father.””
I stared at the message.
Then another notification appeared.
A photo.
My finger hovered over it.
I opened it.
And my entire body froze.
It was a picture of Noah.
Taken that morning.
At Tasha’s house.
I stopped breathing.
“No.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What is it?””
I turned the phone toward him.
His face went pale.
“They’re watching him.””
I grabbed my keys.
“We’re leaving.””
“Nia—”
“No.””
My voice shook.
But not from fear.
From anger.
“Nobody threatens my son.””
I rushed toward the door.
Then I stopped.
Because something caught my eye.
On the entry table.
A small piece of paper.
I hadn’t seen it before.
I picked it up.
Three words were written on it.
*You’re too late.*
And beneath it was a signature.
Not a name.
May you like
Just one letter.
E.
