For several seconds, nobody moved. Richard looked at him.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n \u2014Did your son say something that concerns you?<\/p>\n Richard hesitated.<\/p>\n \u2014He’s five.<\/p>\n \u2014And yet he apparently recognized a name connected to you.<\/p>\n Richard looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014What did he say?<\/p>\n I couldn’t get the words out.<\/p>\n My throat had closed.<\/p>\n So I wrote the name on my phone and showed it to him.<\/p>\n The moment Richard saw it, his face collapsed.<\/p>\n Not confusion.<\/p>\n Recognition.<\/p>\n Fear.<\/p>\n Real, uncontrollable fear.<\/p>\n He took one step backward.<\/p>\n \u2014Where did he hear that?<\/p>\n I stared at him.<\/p>\n \u2014That’s what I’m asking you.<\/p>\n \u2014Paula\u2014<\/p>\n \u2014Where did he hear it?<\/p>\n He rubbed his forehead.<\/p>\n \u2014Not here.<\/p>\n Detective Harris immediately stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u2014Everyone stays right here.<\/p>\n Richard shook his head.<\/p>\n \u2014I need to talk to my sister alone.<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n The detective’s voice was firm.<\/p>\n \u2014Not right now.<\/p>\n Richard looked furious.<\/p>\n \u2014That’s my sister.<\/p>\n \u2014And this is now an active investigation involving two hospitalized children, suspected abuse, and a potentially related homicide investigation.<\/p>\n I froze.<\/p>\n \u2014Homicide?<\/p>\n Detective Harris looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014I didn’t say homicide investigation.<\/p>\n \u2014You just did.<\/p>\n He paused.<\/p>\n \u2014I’m sorry.<\/p>\n \u2014You said homicide.<\/p>\n Richard turned toward him.<\/p>\n \u2014What do you know?<\/p>\n The detective sighed.<\/p>\n \u2014Nothing confirmed.<\/p>\n \u2014About my mother?<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n That was enough.<\/p>\n My heart began pounding.<\/p>\n \u2014What does my mother’s death have to do with this?<\/p>\n Detective Harris didn’t answer.<\/p>\n I stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u2014Detective.<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014Seven years ago, your mother died.<\/p>\n \u2014Yes.<\/p>\n \u2014The official ruling was accidental.<\/p>\n \u2014Yes.<\/p>\n \u2014Are you certain?<\/p>\n I stared at him.<\/p>\n \u2014Certain of what?<\/p>\n \u2014That you know the complete story.<\/p>\n My mouth went dry.<\/p>\n I suddenly remembered that night.<\/p>\n The phone call.<\/p>\n The hospital.<\/p>\n Richard arriving before me.<\/p>\n The police officer telling me there was nothing suspicious.<\/p>\n The funeral.<\/p>\n The paperwork.<\/p>\n Everything had happened so quickly.<\/p>\n I had been twenty-six.<\/p>\n Richard had been thirty.<\/p>\n Chloe wasn’t even married to him yet.<\/p>\n At least, that’s what I remembered.<\/p>\n I looked at Richard.<\/p>\n \u2014You told me she fell down the stairs.<\/p>\n Richard closed his eyes.<\/p>\n \u2014Paula\u2014<\/p>\n \u2014You told me she had been drinking.<\/p>\n \u2014I know.<\/p>\n \u2014You told me the police said it was an accident.<\/p>\n \u2014I know.<\/p>\n \u2014You told me she was alone.<\/p>\n Richard didn’t answer.<\/p>\n My voice rose.<\/p>\n \u2014Was she alone?<\/p>\n Chloe suddenly laughed.<\/p>\n It was quiet.<\/p>\n Almost a whisper.<\/p>\n Everyone turned toward her.<\/p>\n She looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014You really don’t know.<\/p>\n I walked toward her.<\/p>\n The officer immediately stepped between us.<\/p>\n \u2014Stay back.<\/p>\n \u2014What did you mean?<\/p>\n Chloe tilted her head.<\/p>\n \u2014Your brother told you she was alone?<\/p>\n I looked at Richard.<\/p>\n He wouldn’t meet my eyes.<\/p>\n \u2014Richard?<\/p>\n He whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014I was there.<\/p>\n Everything stopped.<\/p>\n I couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n \u2014Paula, listen to me\u2014<\/p>\n \u2014You were there?<\/p>\n \u2014I arrived afterward.<\/p>\n \u2014That’s not what you said.<\/p>\n \u2014I know.<\/p>\n \u2014You said you weren’t there.<\/p>\n \u2014I was scared.<\/p>\n \u2014You lied to me.<\/p>\n \u2014I was trying to protect you.<\/p>\n I laughed.<\/p>\n Not because anything was funny.<\/p>\n Because sometimes your body doesn’t know what else to do when the truth becomes too large.<\/p>\n \u2014Protect me from what?<\/p>\n Richard looked at the floor.<\/p>\n Chloe answered for him.<\/p>\n \u2014From your mother.<\/p>\n I turned toward her.<\/p>\n \u2014Don’t.<\/p>\n \u2014She wasn’t who you thought she was.<\/p>\n \u2014You didn’t know her.<\/p>\n Chloe smiled.<\/p>\n \u2014You’d be surprised.<\/p>\n Detective Harris moved toward Chloe.<\/p>\n \u2014How do you know anything about Paula’s mother?<\/p>\n Chloe didn’t answer.<\/p>\n \u2014Ma’am?<\/p>\n She looked at him.<\/p>\n \u2014Because I was there too.<\/p>\n My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n \u2014Seven years ago?<\/p>\n Chloe nodded.<\/p>\n Richard whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014Chloe, stop.<\/p>\n She looked at him.<\/p>\n \u2014Why?<\/p>\n \u2014Because this has nothing to do with the children.<\/p>\n Chloe smiled.<\/p>\n \u2014Everything has to do with the children.<\/p>\n Then she looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014That’s what you’ve never understood.<\/p>\n A nurse suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.<\/p>\n \u2014Paula?<\/p>\n I turned.<\/p>\n \u2014Yes?<\/p>\n \u2014Leo wants you.<\/p>\n I immediately walked toward the room.<\/p>\n Richard followed.<\/p>\n \u2014I’m coming.<\/p>\n The nurse blocked him.<\/p>\n \u2014He specifically asked for his aunt.<\/p>\n Richard stopped.<\/p>\n I entered alone.<\/p>\n Leo was awake.<\/p>\n His face was still pale, but his eyes were clearer now.<\/p>\n The IV dripped slowly beside him.<\/p>\n Rex rested against his chest.<\/p>\n I sat down.<\/p>\n \u2014I’m here.<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014Did Dad come?<\/p>\n \u2014He’s outside.<\/p>\n Leo nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014Good.<\/p>\n \u2014Why?<\/p>\n Leo hesitated.<\/p>\n Then he whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014Because I don’t want Mom to know.<\/p>\n My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n \u2014Know what?<\/p>\n He looked toward the door.<\/p>\n I leaned closer.<\/p>\n \u2014You can tell me.<\/p>\n Leo’s little fingers squeezed the dinosaur.<\/p>\n \u2014The man told Mom not to let Dad know.<\/p>\n \u2014What man?<\/p>\n \u2014The man who came at night.<\/p>\n \u2014What did he look like?<\/p>\n Leo closed his eyes.<\/p>\n \u2014Tall.<\/p>\n \u2014Anything else?<\/p>\n \u2014Black shirt.<\/p>\n \u2014Hair?<\/p>\n He thought.<\/p>\n \u2014No hair.<\/p>\n I felt a chill.<\/p>\n \u2014Was he bald?<\/p>\n Leo nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014Did he have a beard?<\/p>\n Another nod.<\/p>\n \u2014Did you know him?<\/p>\n Leo shook his head.<\/p>\n \u2014But he knew Dad.<\/p>\n \u2014What did he call him?<\/p>\n Leo whispered the same name.<\/p>\n The name from seven years ago.<\/p>\n I felt sick.<\/p>\n \u2014Leo\u2026<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014He said Dad was supposed to fix something.<\/p>\n \u2014Fix what?<\/p>\n Leo’s eyes moved toward the hallway.<\/p>\n \u2014The door.<\/p>\n \u2014What door?<\/p>\n He pointed toward the closet.<\/p>\n My breathing stopped.<\/p>\n \u2014The closet at home?<\/p>\n He nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014He said the door was supposed to stay closed.<\/p>\n \u2014Why?<\/p>\n Leo’s lips trembled.<\/p>\n \u2014Because someone was inside.<\/p>\n I couldn’t move.<\/p>\n \u2014Someone was inside the closet?<\/p>\n Leo nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014Who?<\/p>\n He started crying.<\/p>\n \u2014A lady.<\/p>\n I stood up.<\/p>\n \u2014What lady?<\/p>\n He buried his face against Rex.<\/p>\n \u2014She was crying.<\/p>\n My heart slammed against my ribs.<\/p>\n \u2014Leo, when did you see her?<\/p>\n \u2014Before Mom put me in the room.<\/p>\n \u2014Was she in the closet?<\/p>\n He nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014Did she speak to you?<\/p>\n Another nod.<\/p>\n \u2014What did she say?<\/p>\n Leo whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014She told me not to tell.<\/p>\n I felt the room spinning.<\/p>\n A woman.<\/p>\n Locked in a closet.<\/p>\n Seven years ago.<\/p>\n My mother.<\/p>\n I rushed into the hallway.<\/p>\n Detective Harris looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014What happened?<\/p>\n \u2014The closet.<\/p>\n \u2014What about it?<\/p>\n \u2014There was someone inside.<\/p>\n His expression hardened.<\/p>\n \u2014Who?<\/p>\n I looked at Richard.<\/p>\n \u2014A woman.<\/p>\n Richard’s face turned white.<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n \u2014Leo said she was crying.<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n \u2014He said she told him not to tell.<\/p>\n Richard backed against the wall.<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n Detective Harris grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n \u2014Mr. Mendoza, sit down.<\/p>\n Richard pushed him away.<\/p>\n \u2014No!<\/p>\n His voice echoed.<\/p>\n Chloe began laughing.<\/p>\n Not loudly.<\/p>\n Just enough.<\/p>\n \u2014There she is.<\/p>\n I turned.<\/p>\n \u2014Who?<\/p>\n Chloe looked directly at me.<\/p>\n \u2014Your mother.<\/p>\n The officer beside her frowned.<\/p>\n \u2014What are you talking about?<\/p>\n Chloe smiled.<\/p>\n \u2014Ask Paula’s brother.<\/p>\n I turned toward Richard.<\/p>\n \u2014Was my mother at that house?<\/p>\n Richard stared at me.<\/p>\n His silence answered.<\/p>\n I felt something inside me crack.<\/p>\n \u2014Was she?<\/p>\n He whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014Yes.<\/p>\n The hallway became silent.<\/p>\n \u2014Why?<\/p>\n Richard’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u2014Because she came to confront me.<\/p>\n \u2014About what?<\/p>\n \u2014About Chloe.<\/p>\n I stared at Chloe.<\/p>\n \u2014You knew my mother?<\/p>\n \u2014Of course.<\/p>\n \u2014Why would my mother confront Richard about you?<\/p>\n Chloe’s expression changed.<\/p>\n For the first time, she looked genuinely tired.<\/p>\n \u2014Because your mother knew what I was.<\/p>\n \u2014What are you?<\/p>\n She looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014A liar.<\/p>\n I waited.<\/p>\n She continued.<\/p>\n \u2014A manipulator.<\/p>\n Another pause.<\/p>\n \u2014And someone who had already learned how to control your brother.<\/p>\n Richard whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014Stop.<\/p>\n Chloe ignored him.<\/p>\n \u2014Your mother figured it out.<\/p>\n \u2014Figured what out?<\/p>\n Chloe looked toward Detective Harris.<\/p>\n \u2014Your brother wasn’t the first man I destroyed.<\/p>\n Richard’s face twisted.<\/p>\n \u2014Don’t.<\/p>\n \u2014And he wasn’t the last.<\/p>\n Detective Harris stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u2014Who else?<\/p>\n Chloe smiled.<\/p>\n \u2014Ask Richard.<\/p>\n I turned.<\/p>\n \u2014Richard?<\/p>\n He wouldn’t answer.<\/p>\n \u2014Who?<\/p>\n He covered his face.<\/p>\n \u2014There was someone before me.<\/p>\n \u2014Who?<\/p>\n \u2014A man.<\/p>\n \u2014What man?<\/p>\n Richard slowly looked up.<\/p>\n \u2014My business partner.<\/p>\n \u2014What happened to him?<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Then:<\/p>\n \u2014He disappeared.<\/p>\n My skin prickled.<\/p>\n \u2014When?<\/p>\n \u2014Six years ago.<\/p>\n I looked at Chloe.<\/p>\n She didn’t deny it.<\/p>\n \u2014And my mother knew?<\/p>\n Richard nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014She found evidence.<\/p>\n \u2014What evidence?<\/p>\n \u2014Financial records.<\/p>\n \u2014Of what?<\/p>\n \u2014Money transfers.<\/p>\n Detective Harris immediately took out his notebook.<\/p>\n \u2014From whom?<\/p>\n Richard looked at Chloe.<\/p>\n \u2014From a company that didn’t exist.<\/p>\n I stared at him.<\/p>\n \u2014What does that have to do with Leo?<\/p>\n Richard’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u2014I don’t know.<\/p>\n Chloe laughed.<\/p>\n \u2014Yes, you do.<\/p>\n Richard shook his head.<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n \u2014You know exactly why they wanted the children.<\/p>\n I felt cold.<\/p>\n \u2014Who is \u201cthey\u201d?<\/p>\n Chloe didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Detective Harris stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u2014Who is they?<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u2014You really think this is about one family?<\/p>\n Nobody spoke.<\/p>\n Chloe continued.<\/p>\n \u2014There are people who make problems disappear.<\/p>\n The detective’s expression hardened.<\/p>\n \u2014Are you threatening someone?<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n \u2014Then what are you saying?<\/p>\n \u2014I’m saying Paula’s mother didn’t die because she fell down the stairs.<\/p>\n My breath caught.<\/p>\n Richard looked away.<\/p>\n I whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014Then how did she die?<\/p>\n Chloe looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014She was pushed.<\/p>\n The words hit me with such force that I couldn’t move.<\/p>\n \u2014Who pushed her?<\/p>\n Chloe’s eyes moved toward Richard.<\/p>\n I turned.<\/p>\n \u2014Richard?<\/p>\n He began crying.<\/p>\n \u2014It wasn’t me.<\/p>\n \u2014Then who?<\/p>\n \u2014I don’t know.<\/p>\n \u2014You’re lying.<\/p>\n \u2014I’m not!<\/p>\n \u2014You were there.<\/p>\n \u2014After!<\/p>\n \u2014You knew she was there.<\/p>\n \u2014I found her!<\/p>\n \u2014And you lied to me.<\/p>\n \u2014I was protecting you!<\/p>\n \u2014From who?<\/p>\n Richard couldn’t answer.<\/p>\n Then a sound came from behind us.<\/p>\n A phone ringing.<\/p>\n Detective Harris looked down.<\/p>\n It was his phone.<\/p>\n He answered.<\/p>\n \u2014Harris.<\/p>\n He listened.<\/p>\n His expression changed.<\/p>\n \u2014You’re sure?<\/p>\n Pause.<\/p>\n \u2014Did you check the second floor?<\/p>\n Another pause.<\/p>\n \u2014And the basement?<\/p>\n His eyes moved toward me.<\/p>\n \u2014Understood.<\/p>\n He hung up.<\/p>\n \u2014What happened? I asked.<\/p>\n He hesitated.<\/p>\n \u2014The officers found something else at your sister-in-law’s house.<\/p>\n My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n \u2014A hidden room.<\/p>\n Richard stared at him.<\/p>\n \u2014Where?<\/p>\n \u2014Behind the closet.<\/p>\n I felt my blood turn cold.<\/p>\n \u2014The closet Leo mentioned?<\/p>\n \u2014Yes.<\/p>\n \u2014What’s inside?<\/p>\n The detective looked at Chloe.<\/p>\n \u2014That’s the problem.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n \u2014The room has been recently used.<\/p>\n Richard whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014By whom?<\/p>\n Harris answered:<\/p>\n \u2014We don’t know.<\/p>\n Then he looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014But there are photographs of both children.<\/p>\n My hands began shaking.<\/p>\n \u2014How recent?<\/p>\n \u2014Some were taken this week.<\/p>\n Richard looked horrified.<\/p>\n \u2014Who was watching them?<\/p>\n The detective shook his head.<\/p>\n \u2014We don’t know yet.<\/p>\n Then another officer came running down the hallway.<\/p>\n \u2014Detective!<\/p>\n Harris turned.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n The officer was breathing hard.<\/p>\n \u2014You need to come see this.<\/p>\n \u2014What did you find?<\/p>\n \u2014A laptop.<\/p>\n \u2014And?<\/p>\n \u2014It’s still connected to the security cameras.<\/p>\n My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n \u2014What security cameras?<\/p>\n The officer looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014The cameras inside the house.<\/p>\n Richard frowned.<\/p>\n \u2014The house has exterior cameras.<\/p>\n \u2014Not these.<\/p>\n The officer swallowed.<\/p>\n \u2014There were cameras inside the children’s rooms.<\/p>\n Nobody spoke.<\/p>\n I looked toward Leo’s room.<\/p>\n Then Sophia’s.<\/p>\n Then back at the officer.<\/p>\n \u2014For how long?<\/p>\n \u2014We don’t know.<\/p>\n \u2014Can you access the recordings?<\/p>\n The officer looked at Detective Harris.<\/p>\n \u2014That’s why I’m here.<\/p>\n Harris followed him.<\/p>\n Richard started after them.<\/p>\n I grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n \u2014Wait.<\/p>\n He turned.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n \u2014Did you know?<\/p>\n His eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n \u2014Look at me.<\/p>\n He did.<\/p>\n \u2014Did you know there were cameras inside their rooms?<\/p>\n \u2014No.<\/p>\n I believed him.<\/p>\n At least, I believed that answer.<\/p>\n Then Chloe spoke behind us.<\/p>\n \u2014Richard knew.<\/p>\n We turned.<\/p>\n \u2014Chloe, shut up.<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u2014He just doesn’t remember.<\/p>\n Richard’s face hardened.<\/p>\n \u2014What does that mean?<\/p>\n Chloe leaned back.<\/p>\n \u2014Ask him about the basement.<\/p>\n Richard froze.<\/p>\n I looked at him.<\/p>\n \u2014What basement?<\/p>\n He didn’t answer.<\/p>\n \u2014Richard.<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n \u2014What basement?<\/p>\n He whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014Our old house.<\/p>\n \u2014What about it?<\/p>\n \u2014There was a room.<\/p>\n My heart began pounding.<\/p>\n \u2014What room?<\/p>\n \u2014A room my father built.<\/p>\n I stared at him.<\/p>\n \u2014Dad built a hidden room?<\/p>\n He nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014Why?<\/p>\n Richard looked at Chloe.<\/p>\n \u2014For your mother.<\/p>\n I felt dizzy.<\/p>\n \u2014Why would Dad build a hidden room for Mom?<\/p>\n Richard’s voice cracked.<\/p>\n \u2014Because she was hiding from someone.<\/p>\n \u2014Who?<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014The same man Leo saw.<\/p>\n My phone suddenly vibrated.<\/p>\n Unknown number.<\/p>\n One message.<\/p>\n I opened it.<\/p>\n There was no text.<\/p>\n Only a photograph.<\/p>\n I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n It showed a little boy sitting on the floor.<\/p>\n Leo.<\/p>\n Five years old.<\/p>\n In the photograph, he was holding Rex.<\/p>\n Behind him was the same bedroom where I had found him.<\/p>\n The timestamp said:<\/p>\n TODAY \u2014 2:13 PM<\/strong><\/p>\n My blood froze.<\/p>\n I looked at the hospital clock.<\/p>\n It was 4:47 PM.<\/p>\n Someone had been watching Leo.<\/p>\n Today.<\/p>\n While he was in the hospital.<\/p>\n I showed Detective Harris.<\/p>\n His expression changed instantly.<\/p>\n \u2014Don’t move.<\/p>\n He took my phone.<\/p>\n Then another message arrived.<\/p>\n This one had words.<\/p>\n YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT HIM IN THE ROOM.<\/strong><\/p>\n I felt my stomach turn.<\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n NOW THEY KNOW YOU KNOW.<\/strong><\/p>\n And then the final message.<\/p>\n LOOK BEHIND YOU.<\/strong><\/p>\n I didn’t want to.<\/p>\n But I did.<\/p>\n Slowly.<\/p>\n The hallway behind me was crowded.<\/p>\n Nurses.<\/p>\n Visitors.<\/p>\n Officers.<\/p>\n Richard.<\/p>\n Chloe.<\/p>\n Everyone was there.<\/p>\n Everyone except one person.<\/p>\n The security guard who had helped rescue Sophia.<\/p>\n He was gone.<\/p>\n I looked toward the emergency entrance.<\/p>\n The doors were slowly closing.<\/p>\n Outside, a man in a black shirt was walking away.<\/p>\n Bald.<\/p>\n Bearded.<\/p>\n Tall.<\/p>\n My heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u2014Detective.<\/p>\n Harris turned.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n I pointed.<\/p>\n \u2014That’s him.<\/p>\n The detective ran.<\/p>\n Two officers followed.<\/p>\n Richard stood frozen.<\/p>\n Chloe smiled.<\/p>\n And then she whispered something so quietly that only I heard it.<\/p>\n \u2014Now you know why I locked the children away.<\/p>\n I turned toward her.<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n She looked into my eyes.<\/p>\n \u2014Because the children saw him.<\/p>\n \u2014Who is he?<\/p>\n Her smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u2014Your father.<\/p>\n I stopped breathing.<\/p>\n My father had been dead for twelve years.<\/p>\n At least\u2026<\/p>\n that’s what I’d been told.<\/p>\n And suddenly, every lie my family had ever told me began to collapse at once.<\/p>\n The man in the black shirt disappeared through the hospital doors.<\/p>\n Detective Harris sprinted after him.<\/p>\n I ran too.<\/p>\n Richard followed.<\/p>\n And behind us, Chloe started screaming.<\/p>\n Not from fear.<\/p>\n From anger.<\/p>\n Because someone had just escaped.<\/p>\n And whatever that man knew about my mother, my brother, Leo, and the hidden room\u2026<\/p>\n he was carrying the truth with him.<\/p>\n But I didn’t know yet that the most terrifying part wasn’t that he had escaped.<\/p>\n It was that he had left something behind.<\/p>\n Something deliberately.<\/p>\n Something meant for me.<\/p>\n When I reached the hospital entrance, Detective Harris was standing beside the automatic doors.<\/p>\n In his hand was a small envelope.<\/p>\n He looked at me.<\/p>\n \u2014This was on the ground.<\/p>\n My name was written across the front.<\/p>\n PAULA MENDOZA.<\/strong><\/p>\n My hands trembled as I took it.<\/p>\n \u2014Don’t open it here, Detective Harris said.<\/p>\n \u2014Why?<\/p>\n \u2014Because we don’t know what’s inside.<\/p>\n I stared at the envelope.<\/p>\n Then I noticed something.<\/p>\n There was a second name written underneath mine.<\/p>\n A name I hadn’t heard in seven years.<\/p>\n My mother’s.<\/p>\n I looked at Richard.<\/p>\n He saw it.<\/p>\n And all the color drained from his face.<\/p>\n \u2014Paula\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014What?<\/p>\n He whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014Don’t open that.<\/p>\n \u2014Why?<\/p>\n \u2014Because if it’s what I think it is\u2026<\/p>\n He couldn’t finish.<\/p>\n I tore the envelope open.<\/p>\n Inside was one photograph.<\/p>\n One handwritten note.<\/p>\n And a key.<\/p>\n The photograph showed my mother.<\/p>\n Alive.<\/p>\n Standing beside a little boy.<\/p>\n A boy who looked exactly like Leo.<\/p>\n Except the photograph was dated\u2026<\/p>\n SEVEN YEARS BEFORE LEO WAS BORN.<\/strong><\/p>\n I stared at it.<\/p>\n My hands went numb.<\/p>\n Then I read the note.<\/p>\n Only six words.<\/p>\n \u201cYour mother knew who Leo really was.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n I looked up.<\/p>\n Richard was gone.<\/p>\n Chloe was gone.<\/p>\n The hallway suddenly felt empty.<\/p>\n And somewhere inside that hospital, an alarm began to sound.<\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n Then another.<\/p>\n A nurse came running toward me.<\/p>\n \u2014Paula!<\/p>\n \u2014What happened?<\/p>\n She grabbed my arm.<\/p>\n \u2014The pediatric room.<\/p>\n My heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u2014Leo?<\/p>\n She nodded.<\/p>\n \u2014He’s gone.<\/p>\n I couldn’t breathe.<\/p>\n \u2014What do you mean, gone?<\/p>\n \u2014His IV is still attached.<\/p>\n \u2014Where is he?<\/p>\n The nurse’s face was white.<\/p>\n \u2014We don’t know.<\/p>\n Then she whispered:<\/p>\n \u2014And Sophia is missing too.<\/p>\n I dropped the photograph.<\/p>\n The key hit the floor.<\/p>\n And from somewhere deep inside the hospital came the sound of a child’s voice.<\/p>\n Leo.<\/p>\n Calling my name.<\/p>\n \u2014Aunt Paula\u2026<\/p>\n I ran toward it.<\/p>\n But the voice wasn’t coming from Leo’s room.<\/p>\n It was coming from the basement.<\/p>\n The hospital basement.<\/p>\n And as I reached the stairwell, my phone vibrated one more time.<\/p>\n A new message.<\/p>\n From the unknown number.<\/p>\n COME ALONE.<\/strong><\/p>\n Then another:<\/p>\n OR YOUR NEPHEW DIES.<\/strong><\/p>\n TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 5\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PART 4 For several seconds, nobody moved. The hallway seemed to shrink around us. Richard stood in front of me, his face drained of color. Detective Harris looked between us. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5034"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5035,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5034\/revisions\/5035"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe hallway seemed to shrink around us.
\nRichard stood in front of me, his face drained of color.
\nDetective Harris looked between us.
\nChloe remained seated beneath the watch of an officer, but she was no longer crying.
\nShe was watching.
\nWaiting.
\nAs if she already knew what was coming.
\nI looked at Richard.
\n\u2014What name did Leo hear?
\nRichard swallowed.
\n\u2014Paula, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
\n\u2014He said the man called you by another name.
\nRichard’s eyes flickered.
\nJust once.
\nBut I saw it.
\n<\/span>Detective Harris saw it too.
\n\u2014Mr. Mendoza?<\/p>\n