Chapter 9: The Call From the Past
The number sat on the page.
Eleven digits.
A connection to a past Marcus thought was buried forever.
He stared at it.
“I don’t understand.””
Evelyn looked at the letter.
“Who is it?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
“But Nia knew them.””
“Yes.””
Lily sat quietly on the floor of the storage unit, holding the stuffed rabbit.
She watched the adults whisper.
She watched the fear.
She watched her father look lost.
Marcus noticed.
He immediately crouched beside her.
“Hey.””
She looked up.
“Are we going home?””
The question hurt.
Because home used to mean safety.
Now it meant questions.
Marcus smiled gently.
“Soon.””
“Is Vanessa coming?””
He paused.
That pause told Lily everything.
“No,” he finally said.
Lily looked down.
Marcus lifted her chin.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.””
“I know.””
“You do?””
She nodded.
“I just wish I told you sooner.””
Marcus hugged her.
“You told me when you were ready.””
Evelyn watched.
Then she turned back to the documents.
There were still unanswered questions.
Why had Vanessa tracked Lily?
Why had she hidden Nia’s papers?
Why had Nia trusted Evelyn?
And who was the person on the page?
Marcus stood.
“We need to call this number.””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Are you ready?””
“No.””
He looked at Lily.
“But I need answers.””
He took out his phone.
His thumb hovered over the number.
Then he pressed call.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Nobody spoke.
Then someone answered.
A woman’s voice.
“Hello?””
Marcus froze.
He knew that voice.
Not because he heard it recently.
Because he remembered it.
Years ago.
A voice connected to Nia.
“Who is this?”” the woman asked.
Marcus swallowed.
“My name is Marcus Carter.””
Silence.
The woman stopped breathing.
Then:
“Marcus?””
Evelyn leaned closer.
The woman sounded afraid.
“You shouldn’t have this number.””
Marcus looked at the letter.
“I found it in Nia’s things.””
Another silence.
Then the woman whispered:
“She knew.””
Marcus frowned.
“Knew what?””
The woman’s voice became urgent.
“Where are you?””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
Then answered:
“I’m at Nia’s storage unit.””
The woman immediately said:
“Leave.””
Everyone froze.
“What?””
“Leave right now.””
“Why?””
The woman lowered her voice.
“Because if Vanessa knows you found that place…”
She stopped.
Marcus’s grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
The woman took a breath.
“She’ll come for the evidence.””
Evelyn looked around the storage unit.
“What evidence?””
Marcus asked.
The woman didn’t answer.
Instead, she said:
“Listen to me carefully.””
Her voice shook.
“Nia didn’t disappear because she wanted to.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
He already knew.
But hearing someone else say it made it real.
“What happened to her?””
The woman was silent.
Too long.
Then:
“She found out Vanessa had been lying about Lily’s identity.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
Lily.
The court papers.
The tracker.
Everything.
“Who are you?””
The woman hesitated.
Then whispered:
“I was Nia’s attorney.””
Marcus felt the room shift.
“Attorney?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you contact me?””
The woman’s voice broke.
“Because Nia told me not to.””
“Why?””
Another pause.
Then the answer:
“Because she believed you were being watched.””
Marcus looked toward the storage unit door.
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
“Watched by who?””
The woman didn’t answer.
Instead, she asked:
“Is Vanessa with you?””
Marcus froze.
“No.””
“Good.””
“Why?””
The woman whispered:
“Because the last time Vanessa knew someone had Nia’s evidence…”
The call suddenly crackled.
Then went silent.
“Hello?””
Nothing.
“Hello?””
The connection dropped.
Marcus stared at the phone.
Evelyn stepped closer.
“What did she say?””
Marcus slowly lowered it.
“She said the last time Vanessa knew someone had Nia’s evidence…”
He looked toward the door.
“…someone disappeared.””
At that exact moment, a sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Approaching.
Marcus turned.
Evelyn pulled Lily behind her.
The storage unit door remained open.
A shadow appeared outside.
May you like
And then a familiar voice said:
“Looking for something?””
