Chapter 5: The Photograph That Shouldn't Exist
Daniel called the police before he returned to the house.
He gave them the car's description, the direction it had traveled, and every detail he could remember about the woman behind the window.
Mrs. Brooks sat at the kitchen table, shaking so badly that she could barely hold a glass of water.
“I only stepped away for a moment,” she kept repeating.
“I heard someone at the front door. I thought it was the delivery driver.””
Daniel crouched beside her.
“Did you see the person who came in?””
“No. I went to check, and when I came back, Sophie was gone.””
“Was the back door open?””
Mrs. Brooks nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
“I swear I locked it.””
Daniel didn't blame her.
Not now.
Not when he was struggling to breathe through the terror clawing at his chest.
Ethan sat on the stairs, hugging his knees.
“Dad?””
Daniel turned immediately.
“I'm here, buddy.””
“Is Sophie coming home?””
Daniel crossed the room and knelt in front of him.
“Yes.””
He said it firmly because his son needed to hear it.
But as he looked into Ethan's frightened eyes, he knew he couldn't promise how quickly that would happen.
Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
“I found this under the couch.””
Daniel unfolded it.
It was a photograph.
The image showed Laura standing outside a small brick building, holding a newborn baby wrapped in a yellow blanket.
Sophie.
Beside Laura stood another woman.
She had the same dark eyes, the same narrow chin, and the same small scar above her left eyebrow.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
On the back, someone had written a date and four words.
Two sisters. One promise.
Daniel stared at the photograph.
“Where did you find this?””
“Under the couch. Vanessa dropped it yesterday, and when I tried to give it back, she told me to forget I'd seen it.””
“Did she say who the other woman was?””
Ethan shook his head.
“She said if I talked about the picture, Sophie would disappear.””
Daniel felt a surge of rage so intense that his vision blurred.
He took a slow breath.
“Listen to me. None of this is your fault. You understand?””
Ethan nodded, but he didn't look convinced.
“Vanessa said I was supposed to protect Sophie.””
Daniel held his son's shoulders.
“You've done more than any eight-year-old should ever have to do. Protecting your sister is not your responsibility anymore. That's my job.””
Ethan's face crumpled.
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.””
Daniel pulled him into a hug.
“You have nothing to apologize for.””
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Ethan whispered, “Daddy, there's something else.””
Daniel leaned back.
“What is it?””
“The woman who took Sophie said something to her.””
“What did she say?””
Ethan wiped his nose on his sleeve.
“She said, 'I'm your real mommy now.''”
Daniel went completely still.
He looked at the photograph again.
The woman beside Laura was holding Sophie's blanket in one hand, and her other hand rested protectively on Laura's shoulder.
On the woman's wrist was a silver bracelet.
The same bracelet Daniel had seen in the car.
His phone rang.
An officer was calling with an update.
Daniel answered immediately.
“Have you found my daughter?””
“Not yet, sir. We have officers checking the surrounding roads. We'll need a recent photograph of the child and any information you have about the suspected abductor.””
Daniel sent the photograph.
Then he asked, “Can you trace a black sedan leaving the area?””
“We're checking traffic cameras now.””
“There's a woman named Rebecca who may be involved. I believe she's related to my late wife.””
“Do you have a surname?””
“No.””
“Any other identifying details?””
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“Dark hair. A scar above her left eyebrow. She was wearing a silver bracelet.””
The officer paused.
“Sir, please remain at home in case we need you to identify someone.””
Daniel ended the call.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
She had been standing silently near the kitchen doorway.
“Tell me everything.””
She folded her arms tightly across her chest.
“I already told you what I know.””
“No. You told me enough to make me afraid. Now you're going to tell me the truth.””
Vanessa looked at the photograph.
For a moment, something resembling grief crossed her face.
“Rebecca was Laura's older sister.””
“Why did Laura tell me she was an only child?””
“Because they hadn't spoken in years.””
“Why?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Rebecca was obsessed with having a child.””
Daniel stared at her.
“What does that have to do with Sophie?””
“Rebecca had a daughter years ago. The baby died shortly after birth.””
“I'm sorry to hear that. It doesn't explain why she kidnapped my daughter.””
“After that, she became convinced that Laura's children should have been hers.””
Daniel felt sick.
“Did Laura know?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she believed Rebecca had changed.””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“She was wrong.””
Daniel paced across the kitchen.
“Why were you at my house the night Laura died?””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“Laura called me. She said Rebecca had been contacting her again. She was frightened and wanted someone to help.””
“And you went?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“When I arrived, Laura was arguing with Rebecca. They were in the driveway. Rebecca wanted Sophie. Laura refused.””
Daniel gripped the back of a chair.
“What happened next?””
“They fought. Laura got into her car, intending to drive away with the children. Rebecca followed her.””
“Did Rebecca cause the accident?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“Did she?””
“I don't know.””
“You were there!””
“I was inside when the car left!””
“Then why did you tell me Laura was alone?””
Vanessa looked up, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Because Rebecca threatened me. She said if I told anyone what I'd seen, she'd come back for Ethan and Sophie.””
Daniel stared at her.
“And you decided the best way to protect them was to marry me and terrorize them in their own home?””
Vanessa recoiled.
“I never meant to hurt them.””
“You hit Ethan.””
“He was trying to hide Sophie from me!””
“Because he was afraid of you!””
Vanessa covered her face.
“I was trying to keep Rebecca from finding her.””
Daniel stared at her in disbelief.
“You kept a toddler terrified because you thought fear would protect her?””
“I thought if Sophie stayed close to me, Rebecca wouldn't be able to take her.””
“That's not protection. That's control.””
Vanessa lowered her hands.
“You don't understand. Rebecca has people who help her. She knows things about this family that you don't.””
“Like what?””
She looked toward the staircase.
“Like the fact that Sophie wasn't born in the hospital you think she was.””
Daniel stopped moving.
“What?””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“Laura gave birth at a private maternity center. There were complications. Another baby was delivered that same night.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Another baby?””
“Yes.””
“Twins?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. Two mothers. Two babies.””
Daniel's mouth went dry.
“What are you saying?””
“I'm saying Rebecca believed that one of the babies should have been hers.””
“Believed?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She had arranged an adoption through a private agency. But the paperwork was never completed. When her baby died, she became convinced that Laura had somehow taken the child meant for her.””
Daniel struggled to understand.
“Are you saying Sophie is Rebecca's daughter?””
“I don't know.””
“You just told me all of this!””
“Because I don't know what happened that night. Laura never told me the whole story.””
Daniel stared at her.
Then he remembered the doctor's message.
There is something else you must know about the accident.
He pulled out his phone and called Dr. Hayes again.
The doctor answered almost immediately.
“Mr. Carter?””
“My daughter has been abducted. The woman who took her may be Laura's sister, Rebecca. You told me another woman was present when the ambulance arrived. Was it Rebecca?””
“I can't confirm that over the phone.””
“Stop protecting the records. My daughter is missing!””
“I am not protecting anyone. I'm trying to make sure we establish the facts correctly.””
“Then give me one fact I can use.””
Dr. Hayes was silent for a moment.
Then he said, “The hospital has a record of a second patient connected to the incident. That patient was treated under a different name.””
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“Who?””
“I don't know whether the name is genuine. But the date of birth and the medical details match someone who was listed as deceased several years earlier.””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She had begun shaking her head.
“No,” she whispered.
“No, that's impossible.””
Daniel pressed the phone closer to his ear.
“Doctor, what was the name on the record?””
Dr. Hayes took a breath.
“Rebecca Morgan.””
Vanessa stumbled backward and grabbed the counter.
Daniel stared at her.
“You told me Rebecca was alive and well.””
“She was!””
“Then why would a hospital have her listed as dead?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with terror.
“Because the Rebecca you saw in that car may not be Laura's sister.””
The kitchen fell silent.
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
Two women stood beside each other.
Identical eyes.
Identical scars.
The same silver bracelet.
He looked at Vanessa.
“How many sisters did Laura have?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Two.””
Daniel felt the floor shift beneath him.
“Two?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Rebecca had a twin.””
Before Daniel could ask another question, his phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Sophie sitting in a white room, holding her stuffed rabbit.
The toddler looked unharmed, but her eyes were swollen from crying.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
You want your daughter back? Come alone. Bring Laura's letters. And don't trust the woman standing in your kitchen.
Daniel looked up.
Vanessa was staring at the screen.
Then she whispered, “She knows about the letters.””
Daniel's phone vibrated again.
May you like
A second message appeared.
Ask Vanessa what happened to the first baby.
