I couldn't take my eyes off the photograph.<\/p>\n
My mother stood beside Michael, younger than I had ever seen her, her hand resting against his chest.<\/p>\n
Behind them was a building I recognized.<\/p>\n
My grandfather\u2019s old office.<\/p>\n
The date written on the back was impossible.<\/p>\n
My mother had married my father before that date.<\/p>\n
At least, that was what I had always believed.<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
She didn't answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her lips trembled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI married your father later than you were told.\u201d<\/p>\n
My father looked down.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much later?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo years.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at both of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lied about your marriage?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Michael was still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room seemed to become smaller.<\/p>\n
My mother continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believed he would come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why marry Dad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I thought Michael was dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
My father spoke quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe came to me after the bridge incident.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew she was still married?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you married her anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she was afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n
That answer didn't explain anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to the marriage?\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother wiped her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael disappeared after the bridge. I believed he was dead. Months passed. Then a year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you never reported him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
My father answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the investigation into the missing money was still active.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at the photograph again.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when did Lily enter this?\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother went completely still.<\/p>\n
I knew before she spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cLily is Michael\u2019s daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words hit harder than anything else that night.<\/p>\n
I looked toward the hallway as if Lily might suddenly appear.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother began crying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was pregnant when Michael disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
My father closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you raised her anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
My voice cracked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn't you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I was afraid Michael would find her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room fell silent.<\/p>\n
I thought of every birthday.<\/p>\n
Every school photograph.<\/p>\n
Every time Lily had asked where she got her eyes.<\/p>\n
Every time my mother had changed the subject.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long has Michael known?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree months?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned toward Detective Morris.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes this change the case?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt changes the motive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about the crash?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still investigating.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould Michael be trying to hurt Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may be trying to frighten her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
He paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
He had remained silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cSay something.\u201d<\/p>\n
He took a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe person who staged this wanted you to believe Lily was responsible. Now we know why.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she is Michael\u2019s daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if he wanted her, why frame her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo isolate you. To make you distrust her. To create pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr to make the police take her away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt sick.<\/p>\n
My fifteen-year-old daughter had nearly been turned into a criminal because of a secret she had never known existed.<\/p>\n
I went upstairs.<\/p>\n
Lily was sitting on her bed.<\/p>\n
She looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat beside her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs someone coming back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
I took her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at me carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're crying.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hadn't realized.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something about your family I should have told you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout Grandpa?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout your father.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean Dad?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
She looked confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy biological father.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stopped breathing for a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
I could not say it immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis name is Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he alive?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
Lily pulled her hand away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn't you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I thought you were safer not knowing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he the man who took the car?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes he want me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked toward the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did everyone lie?\u201d<\/p>\n
I had no answer.<\/p>\n
She stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can't yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause someone has been watching you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince when?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sat down again.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he know about me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
I swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe took your picture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face went pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOutside the store.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the store.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked toward the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a man standing near the parking lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he look like?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTall.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDark jacket.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he speak to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he follow you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he look familiar?\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
I leaned closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho did he remind you of?\u201d<\/p>\n
She whispered, \u201cGrandpa.\u201d<\/p>\n
I froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had the same way of standing.\u201d<\/p>\n
I left Lily with Daniel and returned downstairs.<\/p>\n
My father was sitting alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cLily says the man at the store reminded her of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI've never seen him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Michael look like you?\u201d<\/p>\n
My father hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we were young, people confused us.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn't you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were things we couldn't explain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n
He stood and walked toward the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael wasn't simply my wife's first husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was my business partner.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe built the company together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the missing money?\u201d<\/p>\n
My father nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe both had access.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you could have stolen it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The admission was quiet.<\/p>\n
I felt my stomach turn.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Michael?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
My father looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there was one account neither of us controlled.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour grandfather\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered the envelope.<\/p>\n
The will.<\/p>\n
The photograph.<\/p>\n
The old office.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are those records?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho took them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked exhausted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Michael knows.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKnows what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money was never stolen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was transferred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo where?\u201d<\/p>\n
He shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what he has been searching for.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you know where it went.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know where it was supposed to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn't answer.<\/p>\n
My phone rang.<\/p>\n
Detective Morris.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found Evan.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart jumped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a motel outside town.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he safe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he with Michael?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why was his jacket at the scene?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe says it wasn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe says someone stole it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I speak to him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned toward my father.<\/p>\n
He was staring at me.<\/p>\n
I ended the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvan was framed too.\u201d<\/p>\n
My father nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was afraid of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Michael has done this before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe makes people look guilty of crimes they didn't commit.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother entered the room.<\/p>\n
She looked at my father.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sat down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she deserves everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
My father looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't know what that will do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe already knows too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother reached into her purse.<\/p>\n
She removed a small envelope.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found this in the house after Michael disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
She handed it to me.<\/p>\n
Inside was a birth certificate.<\/p>\n
My name wasn't on it.<\/p>\n
Lily\u2019s was.<\/p>\n
Under father\u2019s name:<\/p>\n
Michael Vance.<\/p>\n
But the date of registration was only three months old.<\/p>\n
Someone had obtained a replacement record recently.<\/p>\n
My hands began shaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho requested this?\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel took the document.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is new.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow new?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree months.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same time the threats began.<\/p>\n
The same time my mother received the photograph.<\/p>\n
The same time someone started watching Lily.<\/p>\n
The same time Michael returned.<\/p>\n
Then my phone buzzed.<\/p>\n
Unknown number.<\/p>\n
A photograph appeared.<\/p>\n
Lily.<\/p>\n
Standing beside me in the hallway.<\/p>\n
Taken less than a minute earlier.<\/p>\n
I looked toward the staircase.<\/p>\n
Nobody was there.<\/p>\n
A message followed.<\/p>\n
Now you know who she belongs to.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow, bring me the account records.<\/p>\n
Or Lily disappears.<\/p>\n
I couldn't take my eyes off the photograph. My mother stood beside Michael, younger than I had ever seen her, her hand resting against his chest. Behind them was a … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-readmore"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4143"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4158,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4143\/revisions\/4158"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}