Chapter 4 - The Photograph from Seven Years Ago
Laura turned the photograph over again.
The date was unmistakable.
Seven years earlier.
She had not even lived in the house then.
She had purchased it five years ago.
So why had someone photographed it before she moved in?
Emily stood beside her.
“Who took that?”
“I don't know.”
Laura looked closer.
The house looked almost identical.
Except for one detail.
A black sedan sat in the driveway.
Laura recognized it.
It belonged to her father.
Her father had died eight years earlier.
Laura's hands began to tremble.
Her father had never told her he had visited the property.
She searched the photograph again.
A figure stood behind the living room window.
Too distant to identify.
Laura enlarged the image.
The person appeared to be a woman.
Emily whispered, “Mom, is that Grandma?”
Laura didn't know.
But the more she looked, the more convinced she became.
The woman had Margaret's posture.
Margaret's hairstyle.
Margaret's coat.
Laura immediately called her mother.
Margaret answered after three rings.
“Laura?”
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“No, you're not.”
Silence.
Laura closed her eyes.
“Why were you in my house tonight?”
Margaret sighed.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By bringing a stranger into my house?”
“You saw him?”
“Yes.”
Another silence.
Then Margaret said, “You shouldn't have followed me.”
Laura stared at the phone.
“What are you talking about?”
“You were never supposed to know.”
“Know what?”
Margaret lowered her voice.
“Your father left something behind.”
Laura's heart stopped.
“What?”
“I can't tell you over the phone.”
“Then tell me now.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel is listening.”
Laura froze.
Daniel was her husband.
He had been out of town for three days.
He was supposed to return tomorrow.
Laura looked toward the kitchen.
“Where is Daniel?”
Margaret didn't answer.
Then the call ended.
Laura immediately called Daniel.
Straight to voicemail.
Emily watched her.
“Mom?”
Laura shook her head.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then a new message arrived.
This time from Margaret.
Come to the old storage building at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Come alone.
Laura stared at the screen.
A second message appeared.
If you want to know what your father discovered, you have to trust me once.
Laura didn't trust her.
But she needed answers.
And somewhere inside her, a terrible suspicion was beginning to form.
May you like
Maybe her father hadn't died without knowing what was coming.
Maybe he had left Laura a warning.
