Chapter 9: The Memory Marcus Lost
Marcus stared at the photograph.
His face had gone completely blank.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Empty.
Like his mind was searching through years of memories and finding locked doors.
“Where did you get this?”” he asked.
Daniel didn’t answer.
Marcus looked up.
“Where?””
“I found it with Patricia’s belongings.””
My body froze.
“Patricia kept it?””
Daniel nodded.
“After she disappeared.””
Marcus looked at the photo again.
“That’s me.””
“Yes.””
“But why would she have a picture of me?””
Nobody answered.
Because the answer was obvious.
And impossible.
I walked closer.
“Marcus.””
He looked at me.
“Do you remember anything about that day?””
He shook his head immediately.
“No.””
“Anything at all?””
“No.””
Daniel spoke softly.
“You were young.””
Marcus looked at him.
“I was four.””
“Yes.””
“I barely remember yesterday from when I was four.””
Daniel nodded.
“But some memories don’t disappear.””
They hide.
Marcus looked away.
“I remember a park.””
Everyone became still.
I stared.
“What?””
He frowned.
“I don’t know why.””
He closed his eyes.
“There was a park.””
I sat down slowly.
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
His breathing changed.
“There was a woman.””
My heart started racing.
“What woman?””
“I don’t know.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Think.””
Marcus opened his eyes.
“Why are you telling me to remember something you already know?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Because I want you to say it.””
Marcus looked frustrated.
“I can’t.””
Then suddenly he grabbed his head.
A memory.
A feeling.
A moment buried deep.
“She had a necklace.””
I stopped breathing.
“What kind?””
Marcus looked at me.
“A pearl necklace.””
My hand went to my chest.
The necklace I wore every day.
The necklace my mother gave me.
The necklace I wore when my daughter was born.
Marcus looked at me.
“Mom?””
I couldn’t speak.
Because I remembered.
The day my daughter disappeared.
I had taken off my necklace.
Just for a moment.
To clean it.
And when I returned…
My baby was gone.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
“Was she wearing one?””
I whispered:
“Yes.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Daniel looked away.
The truth was getting closer.
Too close.
Then Marcus’s phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Unknown number.
Again.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A familiar voice responded.
Patricia.
Older.
Weak.
Alive.
Marcus looked shocked.
“Who is this?””
The voice trembled.
“Marcus…”
My heart stopped.
She knew his name.
“Where are you?”” Marcus asked.
A pause.
Then:
“I’m sorry.””
The room went silent.
Marcus held the phone tighter.
“Sorry for what?””
The woman cried.
“For letting him find you.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“What?””
Patricia continued.
“Your father knows about the money.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Patricia.””
The voice changed.
“You brought her here.””
Daniel’s face went pale.
“I had to.””
“No.””
Patricia sounded terrified.
“You don’t understand what you started.””
Marcus looked between them.
“What is happening?””
The voice on the phone whispered:
“Marcus, listen to me.””
He did.
“Your mother is not the person you need to fear.””
My body went cold.
“What did you say?””
Patricia continued:
“The person who destroyed your family has been standing beside you this entire time.””
Marcus slowly looked around the room.
At me.
At Daniel.
At Vanessa.
Then the phone went silent.
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Until Marcus noticed something.
Something sitting beside the evidence bag.
A second envelope.
One that had not been there before.
His name was written on the front.
Not mine.
Not Vanessa’s.
His.
Marcus picked it up.
His hands shook.
“Why is my name on this?””
I stared at the envelope.
Because suddenly I understood.
The wedding was never the target.
I was never the target.
Marcus was.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was one sentence.
May you like
And when he read it, his face changed forever.
*“Your mother chose you. Your father chose her. Now you must choose who to believe.””*
