Chapter 6: The Truth Between Two Lies
I stared at the message on Kara’s phone.
*Stop digging, or she learns the truth.*
Six words.
That was all.
But somehow they carried more weight than the entire folder sitting between us.
Because whoever sent it knew exactly where we were.
They knew Kara contacted me.
They knew I was asking questions.
And most importantly…
They knew there was something I didn’t know.
Kara quickly locked her phone.
“We need to leave.””
I didn’t move.
“Who sent that?””
“I don’t know.””
“Don’t lie to me.””
Her eyes met mine.
“I’m not.””
The fear in her voice was real.
Not the kind someone faked when they wanted sympathy.
The kind that came from remembering something painful.
“Kara.””
She looked around the café.
Then lowered her voice.
“There are things about Jordan’s past that even I don’t understand.””
“Then why are you warning me?””
“Because I know what it feels like to find out too late.””
I looked at the folder.
The documents.
The photos.
My father’s handwritten statement.
“You knew my father.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
“How?””
Kara hesitated.
Then said:
“Because Marcus was the person who helped me after everything happened.””
I frowned.
“After what?””
She looked down.
“After Elijah disappeared.””
My chest tightened.
“You were there?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“At Alyssa’s house.””
The answer hit me.
“You knew Alyssa?””
“I was her sister.””
“No. I mean that night.””
Kara swallowed.
“I was there when everything changed.””
The café suddenly felt too bright.
Too loud.
I could hear cups hitting tables.
People laughing.
Someone ordering coffee.
Normal sounds.
Except nothing about my life felt normal anymore.
“Tell me what happened.””
Kara looked at me for a long moment.
Then she opened the folder again.
“The night Elijah disappeared, Jordan and Alyssa had another fight.””
“About custody?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
“Jordan wanted Elijah to stay with him permanently. Alyssa refused.””
“That doesn’t sound unusual.””
“No.””
Kara’s fingers tightened around the paper.
“But that night, Jordan said something different.””
“What?””
“He said if Alyssa didn’t agree, he would tell the court something.””
“What something?””
She looked at me.
“That she wasn’t the only parent who had secrets.””
I felt a chill.
“What secrets?””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
“Then why are you telling me?””
“Because the next morning, Elijah was gone.””
I looked down.
“Jordan blamed my father?””
“He questioned everyone.””
“Everyone?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Kara looked uncomfortable.
“Because when Elijah disappeared, Marcus was the last person seen with him.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“My father told me he barely knew Jordan.””
Kara gave me a sad look.
“Nia.””
“What?””
“Your father was lying.””
The words hurt more than I expected.
Not because they were surprising.
Because I had spent my whole life believing my father was the one person who would never lie to me.
I grabbed the statement again.
“Why would he?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then who does?””
Kara didn’t answer.
And that scared me.
“Where is Jordan now?””
“He was supposed to meet me.””
“Why?””
“He knew I was talking to you.””
My heart dropped.
“You told him?””
“No.””
“Then how did he know?””
Kara looked away.
“I don’t know.””
I stood.
“We’re leaving.””
She nodded.
We walked outside.
The air felt colder than before.
I checked my phone.
Three missed calls.
All from Jordan.
Then one from my father.
I ignored both.
My car was parked two blocks away.
Neither of us spoke until we reached it.
Then Kara stopped.
“Nia.””
I turned.
“What?””
“There’s something else.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course there was.
There was always something else.
“What?””
She reached into her bag.
This time, she didn’t pull out papers.
She pulled out an old photograph.
She handed it to me.
My heart stopped.
It was Jordan.
My father.
And a young Elijah.
Together.
Smiling.
Like a family.
I looked at the photo.
“When was this taken?””
“Three months before you met Jordan.””
My fingers tightened.
“So my father knew him.””
“Yes.””
“And he never told me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Kara looked at the photo.
“Because Marcus made Jordan promise something.””
“What?””
“That he would stay away from you.””
My breathing stopped.
“What?””
“He knew Jordan was interested in you.””
I shook my head.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Jordan and I met by accident.””
Kara’s expression changed.
“Nia.””
“What?””
“You really believe that?””
The question landed harder than it should have.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying Jordan didn’t meet you by accident.””
I felt dizzy.
“No.””
“He knew who you were.””
“How?””
“Because of Marcus.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
“Nia—”
“No.””
I looked at the photo again.
My father.
Jordan.
A child.
A secret.
Everything was becoming connected.
Too connected.
“What are you saying?””
Kara looked at me with pity.
“I’m saying Jordan was never supposed to be part of your life.””
My phone rang.
Jordan.
This time, I answered.
“Where are you?””
His voice came immediately.
“Thank God.””
I said nothing.
“Nia, listen to me.””
“Did you know my father before you met me?””
Silence.
That was all I needed.
“Jordan.””
“Yes.””
The honesty made my stomach turn.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Before you.””
“How much before me?””
He exhaled.
“Months.””
I laughed quietly.
I couldn’t help it.
“Months.””
“Nia—”
“You knew who I was.””
“Yes.””
“You knew my father.””
“Yes.””
“And you still let me believe we met by chance.””
“I wanted to tell you.””
“When?””
“I don’t know.””
I closed my eyes.
The same answer.
Always the same answer.
“Why?””
“Because I didn’t know how.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“You didn’t know how to tell me you knew my father?””
“That wasn’t the only thing.””
My heart sank.
“What else?””
Jordan went quiet.
“Jordan.””
“There’s something you need to understand.””
“I’m done understanding things you refuse to explain.””
“I was investigating.””
I froze.
“What?””
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you.””
“What were you doing?””
He didn’t answer.
“Jordan.””
“My son’s disappearance.””
The world went silent.
“What?””
“I never stopped trying to find out what happened.””
I looked at Kara.
She was watching me carefully.
“You think my father had something to do with it.””
Jordan’s voice became quieter.
“I think your father knows more than he admitted.””
My chest tightened.
“Then why date me?””
That question came out before I could stop it.
The silence afterward was brutal.
Finally:
“Because I fell in love with you.””
I wanted to believe him.
That was the worst part.
I wanted to.
But I couldn’t.
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
“Or did you get close to me because of him?””
“No.””
“Jordan.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I swear to you, Nia.””
I looked at the photo in my hand.
My father smiling beside him.
A child between them.
A life I never knew existed.
“Then answer one thing.””
“What?””
“Why did my father tell me to stay away from you?””
Jordan didn’t answer.
“Jordan.””
When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.
“Because he knew what happened the night Elijah disappeared.””
My heart stopped.
“And?””
“And because he knew I wasn’t the only person responsible.””
I froze.
“What does that mean?””
Jordan took a breath.
“Nia…”
“What?””
“The night Elijah disappeared…”
A pause.
Then:
“Your father wasn’t alone.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who was with him?””
Jordan didn’t answer.
The call suddenly went silent.
Not ended.
Silent.
Then I heard a voice.
Not Jordan’s.
A woman’s voice.
Whispering.
“Nia?””
I looked at my phone.
“Who is this?””
The voice trembled.
“I need you to listen carefully.””
My grip tightened.
“Who are you?””
The woman breathed in.
Then said:
“My name is Alyssa.””
My entire body went still.
“I know you’re trying to find out what happened to Elijah.””
I couldn’t speak.
“And I know Jordan is telling you your father was involved.””
My heart pounded.
“Wasn’t he?””
A long silence.
Then Alyssa whispered:
“No.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“The person Jordan has been blaming for eight years…”
Her voice cracked.
“It wasn’t your father.””
I waited.
“Then who?””
Alyssa answered with five words.
May you like
And they changed everything.
“Ask Jordan about the night you met.””