Chapter 9: The Woman in Lavender
Michael stared at Vanessa.
“What do you mean you didn't buy it?””
Vanessa touched the sleeve of her cream blouse.
“The cardigan.””
She looked at Evelyn.
“I've seen that exact color before.””
Evelyn gripped the back of a chair.
“Where?””
“At Derek's house.””
Arthur's face tightened.
“You've been to Derek's house?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Once.””
“When?””
“Last month.””
Michael stepped closer.
“Why?””
“Because he threatened me.””
“With what?””
“He said if I didn't find the files, he'd expose everything.””
Michael's jaw clenched.
“Everything you did?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
“What did he show you?””
“A box.””
“What was inside?””
“Photographs.””
“Of who?””
“Your family.””
Michael looked at Arthur.
Arthur sat down slowly.
“Daniel?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Daniel.””
Michael closed his eyes.
“What else?””
“A woman.””
“Silver hair?””
“Yes.””
“Lavender cardigan?””
“Yes.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“That woman isn't me.””
“I know.””
Michael opened his eyes.
“Who was she?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“She looked older.””
“How old?””
“Late sixties, maybe seventy.””
Arthur stared at her.
“Was she alone?””
“No.””
“Who was with her?””
Vanessa's eyes moved toward Michael.
“A man.””
“Who?””
“I didn't know his name.””
“Did he look familiar?””
She hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Vanessa looked at Arthur.
“He looked like you.””
Arthur's face drained of color.
Michael whispered, “What?””
Vanessa continued.
“Not exactly. Younger. Same eyes.””
Arthur stood.
“That’s impossible.””
Michael looked at him.
“Dad?””
Arthur's hand went to his chest.
“Daniel.””
Michael stared.
“You said Daniel disappeared.””
“He did.””
“Then why would someone who looked like him be there?””
Arthur couldn't answer.
Evelyn suddenly walked toward the old photograph drawer.
She pulled out a picture.
A young man.
Dark curls.
Strong jaw.
Arthur's eyes.
Michael stared.
“That’s Daniel?””
Arthur nodded.
Vanessa looked at the photograph.
“That’s him.””
Michael's heart pounded.
“You're sure?””
“Yes.””
“Then you saw him.””
“I saw someone who looked exactly like him.””
Arthur took the photograph.
His hands shook.
“Where?””
“Derek's house.””
“When?””
“Last month.””
Michael looked at her.
“Was he alive?””
“I don't know.””
“How could you not know?””
“Because I never saw his face.””
“What?””
“He was behind a glass door.””
Michael frowned.
“What was he doing?””
“Talking to the woman.””
“What woman?””
“The one in lavender.””
Evelyn whispered, “She wasn't me.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.””
Arthur looked at Michael.
“There's another possibility.””
Michael waited.
Arthur's voice was strained.
“Daniel may not have disappeared.””
Michael stared.
“You said he was gone.””
“I said we never found him.””
The room went silent.
Michael's phone buzzed.
A new photograph.
This time it wasn't of his parents.
It was a photograph of a young man.
Older than the Daniel in the family picture.
But unmistakably similar.
Standing outside a warehouse.
Michael zoomed in.
The man was holding a folder.
On the building behind him was a sign:
*REDWOOD LOGISTICS*
The date stamped beneath the photo was from six months ago.
Michael looked up.
“Dad.””
Arthur stared at the screen.
His lips parted.
“That's him.””
Michael's heart slammed against his ribs.
“You're sure?””
Arthur nodded.
“That’s Daniel.””
Evelyn began crying.
“After all these years…”
Vanessa whispered, “He's alive.””
Michael looked at the photograph.
“Why would he hide from us?””
Arthur's face hardened.
“Maybe he wasn't hiding.””
Michael looked at him.
“What do you mean?””
“Maybe he was hiding from Calvin.””
“And now?””
Arthur stared at the picture.
“Maybe Calvin found him.””
A car engine sounded outside.
Everyone froze.
Headlights swept across the living room wall.
Michael moved toward the window.
A black SUV stopped in front of the house.
No one got out.
Then Michael's phone buzzed.
*Come outside alone.*
He looked at Vanessa.
“Who sent that?””
She shook her head.
Another message appeared.
*Bring the original files.*
Michael looked at Arthur.
His father slowly shook his head.
“Don't go.””
Michael walked toward the door.
Arthur grabbed his arm.
“Michael, listen to me.””
Michael looked at him.
“Dad, someone has been watching us all day.””
“I know.””
“They know about Daniel.””
“I know.””
“They know about the files.””
“I know.””
“Then hiding inside isn't going to make us safe.””
Arthur tightened his grip.
“They want you outside.””
“Maybe.””
“That is exactly what they want.””
Michael looked at the SUV.
“What choice do I have?””
Arthur's eyes filled.
“You have one.””
“What?””
“Trust me.””
Michael stared at him.
“You kept my brother from me for thirty-seven years.””
Arthur flinched.
“I know.””
“You hid a letter.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe I was an only child.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“And now someone is threatening my parents.””
Arthur released his arm.
Michael opened the door.
Vanessa grabbed his shoulder.
“Michael.””
He turned.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“I know where the last copy is.””
Michael froze.
“What?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“I remembered.””
“Where?””
She glanced at Arthur.
“Your father didn't hide it in this house.””
Arthur's face changed.
Michael turned toward him.
“Where is it?””
Arthur said nothing.
Vanessa whispered:
“Daniel took it.””
Michael's breath caught.
The black SUV's passenger door opened.
A man stepped out.
Michael recognized him from the photograph.
Older.
Thinner.
Gray at the temples.
But unmistakable.
Michael stared.
The man looked directly at him.
Arthur's knees nearly buckled.
Evelyn whispered one word.
“Daniel.””
The man raised a finger to his lips.
Then he pointed toward the house.
Not at Michael.
At Vanessa.
Michael slowly turned.
Vanessa was crying.
Daniel stepped onto the porch.
His eyes never left her.
Then he spoke.
“Michael, don't trust your wife.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Daniel continued.
“She didn't find the files.””
He took another step.
“She delivered them.””
Michael stared at Vanessa.
“What?””
Daniel looked at Arthur.
“And Dad…”
Arthur's face went pale.
Daniel's voice broke.
“You need to tell him who ordered my disappearance.””
Arthur closed his eyes.
Michael looked between them.
“Who?””
Daniel reached into his jacket.
Pulled out a photograph.
And held it toward Michael.
The photograph showed four people standing together outside Redwood Logistics.
Arthur.
Daniel.
Calvin Reed.
And someone else.
Someone Michael recognized instantly.
His own mother.
Evelyn.
Michael stared at the photograph.
Evelyn whispered, “I can explain.””
Michael's voice was barely audible.
“Mom…”
She looked at him.
“I was there.””
The world seemed to stop.
Then Daniel said the words that shattered everything Michael thought he knew:
“You weren't just there.””
May you like
He looked at Evelyn.
“You were the one who made the deal.””