For several seconds, nobody moved.
\nMichael stared at Lena.
\nLena stared toward the basement.
\nDerek held Noah tightly against his chest.
\nAnd somewhere beneath them, Travis was still screaming.
\n\u201cGET HIM OUT!\u201d
\nAn officer shouted from the bottom of the stairs.
\n\u201cWHO?\u201d
\nTravis’s voice cracked.
\n\u201cTHE MAN!\u201d
\n\u201cWhat man?\u201d
\n\u201cHe’s here!\u201d
\nThe officer looked at the other officers.
\nThen back toward Travis.
\n\u201cThere’s nobody else down here.\u201d
\nTravis shook his head violently.
\n\u201cYou don’t understand!\u201d
\n\u201cThen explain it.\u201d
\n\u201cI CAN’T!\u201d
\n\u201cWhy not?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause he doesn’t let me!\u201d
\nThe basement fell silent.
\nMichael looked at Derek.
\nDerek looked at Lena.
\nThen Michael asked the question that had been burning inside him since the moment she walked through the door.
\n\u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena didn’t answer.<\/p>\n
Michael stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said he’s the reason this happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena looked at Noah.<\/p>\n
The little boy was hiding his face against Derek.<\/p>\n
Then Lena whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cHis name was Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael stopped breathing.<\/p>\n
Derek’s expression changed instantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Derek repeated. \u201cDaniel is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena looked directly at Michael.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m saying that’s what everyone was supposed to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn’t possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish it wasn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael didn’t answer.<\/p>\n
Derek looked at his brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael finally spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour best friend?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael nodded slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe grew up together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael’s eyes drifted toward the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe died three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCar accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek looked at Lena.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you telling us Daniel survived?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
She wiped a tear from her cheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m telling you someone has been pretending to be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke.<\/p>\n
Then a police officer came upstairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found something in the basement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer held up a small black box.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was hidden behind a panel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael stared at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don’t know yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena suddenly stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon’t open it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause that’s what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael turned toward her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don’t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen explain it!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve been trying to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cProtect me?\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed toward Noah.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son was hit with a baseball bat!\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena flinched.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her silence answered him.<\/p>\n
Michael’s face hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew this was coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew something was going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew someone was watching us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonths.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonths?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI started receiving messages.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn’t know at first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did they say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena looked down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings only Daniel would know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael’s voice became quieter.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe name of the tree we used to climb behind his parents’ house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael went still.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe scar on his left hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told me about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nickname he gave Michael when they were sixteen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cRed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe called you Red.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael’s stomach twisted.<\/p>\n
Nobody had called him that in years.<\/p>\n
Not since Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn’t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time I started to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why didn’t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he told me what would happen if I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena looked at Noah.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he’d take our son.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek’s arms tightened around the boy.<\/p>\n
Michael stared at Lena.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should have called the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey didn’t believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the messages stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael looked toward the officers.<\/p>\n
One of them was listening carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we see the messages?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI deleted them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Daniel told me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael’s voice became almost a whisper.<\/p>\n
\u201cLena\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should have told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were next.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew everything about you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat everything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael’s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour bank account.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour passwords.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew where Noah went to school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael looked at Noah.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew which park you took him to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek’s expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew when you weren’t home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael looked toward the front door.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s how he knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s been watching us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then a voice came from downstairs.<\/p>\n
A voice that was barely audible.<\/p>\n
But everyone heard it.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot watching.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone froze.<\/p>\n
Travis.<\/p>\n
His voice echoed up the staircase.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer immediately turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay where you are!\u201d<\/p>\n
Travis laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re too late.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer moved toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Travis looked up the stairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s already inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer’s hand moved toward his radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone stay together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael looked around the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cInside where?\u201d<\/p>\n
Travis smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn your family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then the basement lights went out.<\/p>\n
Darkness swallowed the house.<\/p>\n
Noah screamed.<\/p>\n
\u201cDADDY!\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael reached for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve got you!\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek moved closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay together!\u201d<\/p>\n
Flashlights appeared.<\/p>\n
Officers drew their weapons.<\/p>\n
The house became a maze of shadows.<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck the basement!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck the upstairs hallway!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSecure the doors!\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael held Noah.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
But his own voice didn’t sound convincing.<\/p>\n
Then something crashed downstairs.<\/p>\n
Everyone turned.<\/p>\n
A second crash.<\/p>\n
Then silence.<\/p>\n
One officer moved down the stairs.<\/p>\n
Another followed.<\/p>\n
Michael watched.<\/p>\n
Five seconds.<\/p>\n
Ten.<\/p>\n
Then a shout.<\/p>\n
\u201cCLEAR!\u201d<\/p>\n
The basement lights came back on.<\/p>\n
The officer appeared at the bottom of the stairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cTravis is still here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what’s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer looked confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe keeps pointing at the wall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat wall?\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer pointed.<\/p>\n
Michael followed his finger.<\/p>\n
There was a large framed photograph hanging on the basement wall.<\/p>\n
Michael’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n
He knew that photograph.<\/p>\n
It was from ten years earlier.<\/p>\n
Michael.<\/p>\n
Derek.<\/p>\n
Lena.<\/p>\n
Daniel.<\/p>\n
Four friends standing together at a lake.<\/p>\n
Daniel was in the middle.<\/p>\n
Smiling.<\/p>\n
Alive.<\/p>\n
Michael stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is that here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn’t put it there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derek stared at the photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither did I.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael looked at the frame.<\/p>\n
Something was different.<\/p>\n
A small piece of paper had been taped to the glass.<\/p>\n
He walked toward it.<\/p>\n
An officer stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon’t touch it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael stopped.<\/p>\n
The officer carefully removed the paper.<\/p>\n
Then handed it to him after photographing it.<\/p>\n
Michael unfolded it.<\/p>\n
There were four words.<\/p>\n
ONE OF YOU LIED.<\/strong><\/p>\n Derek stared.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody answered.<\/p>\n Then the officer examined the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cSir.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are four people in this picture.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut there are five shadows.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s blood ran cold.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n The officer pointed.<\/p>\n The photograph showed four people.<\/p>\n But on the ground behind them were five shadows.<\/p>\n One belonged to someone who wasn’t in the picture.<\/p>\n Derek stepped closer.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n She was staring at the photograph.<\/p>\n Her face had gone white.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve seen this before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn Daniel’s messages.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cHe said the fifth shadow belonged to the person who betrayed him.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked at Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cWho betrayed him?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at the photograph.<\/p>\n Then he noticed something.<\/p>\n The fifth shadow wasn’t standing behind all four of them.<\/p>\n It was standing behind Daniel.<\/p>\n And its hand was resting on Daniel’s shoulder.<\/p>\n Michael leaned closer.<\/p>\n There was another detail.<\/p>\n Something written on the back of the photograph.<\/p>\n The officer turned it over.<\/p>\n Everyone waited.<\/p>\n A date.<\/p>\n Three years ago.<\/p>\n The exact date Daniel supposedly died.<\/p>\n Michael whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cHe took this after the accident.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause that’s the date.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn’t the day Daniel died.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena’s voice trembled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the day Daniel disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n Michael couldn’t move.<\/p>\n Derek looked at Lena.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat’s the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Daniel’s body was never found.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told us there was a body.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael looked at Lena.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told me his body was recovered.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never said that.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s face went pale.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were at the funeral.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was at the funeral.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo was I.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo was Derek.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek nodded slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there was no body.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at him.<\/p>\n The memory came back.<\/p>\n The closed casket.<\/p>\n The flowers.<\/p>\n The priest.<\/p>\n The photographs.<\/p>\n But no body.<\/p>\n Michael suddenly felt sick.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn’t I remember that?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cBecause someone wanted you to forget.\u201d<\/p>\n The room became silent again.<\/p>\n Then Noah spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael looked down.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, buddy?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah pointed toward the photograph.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s him.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah pointed at the fifth shadow.<\/p>\n \u201cThe man who came to our house.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek’s face changed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve seen him?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn Mommy’s car.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena froze.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was sitting in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena’s face drained of color.<\/p>\n \u201cYesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHe told me not to tell Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at Lena.<\/p>\n \u201cYou let him ride in your car?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t know he was there.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn’t there when Mommy got in.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone stared at him.<\/p>\n Michael crouched.<\/p>\n \u201cThen when did he appear?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah thought for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter Mommy stopped the car.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNear the old gas station.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael exchanged a look with Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did she stop?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah looked confused.<\/p>\n \u201cShe got a phone call.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom who?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cShe said it was Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s face hardened.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you hear what they said?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe got in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe man.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s stomach turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did he look like?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Then he whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cLike Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody moved.<\/p>\n Michael stared at his son.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah opened his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHe looked like Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek slowly looked at Michael.<\/p>\n Lena covered her mouth.<\/p>\n The officer stepped forward.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying the man looked exactly like Michael?\u201d<\/p>\n Noah nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had Daddy’s face.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stood.<\/p>\n \u201cThat isn’t possible.\u201d<\/p>\n But Noah began crying.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said he was Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s voice disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe said, \u2018Noah, it’s me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked toward the basement.<\/p>\n Travis suddenly started laughing.<\/p>\n Everyone turned.<\/p>\n The officer shouted:<\/p>\n \u201cTRAVIS! STOP!\u201d<\/p>\n Travis kept laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou still don’t get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael walked toward the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Travis looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re asking the wrong question.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat question?\u201d<\/p>\n Travis smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou keep asking who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n The smile disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should be asking\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed directly at Michael.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026which one of you is real.\u201d<\/p>\n The basement went silent.<\/p>\n Derek looked at his brother.<\/p>\n Michael looked at Derek.<\/p>\n Lena looked between them.<\/p>\n Then Noah whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Michael turned.<\/p>\n Noah was staring behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n The little boy’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are two.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael slowly turned around.<\/p>\n Everyone else turned too.<\/p>\n At the end of the hallway stood a man.<\/p>\n Same height.<\/p>\n Same build.<\/p>\n Same face.<\/p>\n Same clothes.<\/p>\n He looked exactly like Michael.<\/p>\n For one horrifying second, nobody spoke.<\/p>\n Then the stranger smiled.<\/p>\n And said:<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n Noah screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cTHAT’S HIM!\u201d<\/p>\n The officers raised their weapons.<\/p>\n \u201cDON’T MOVE!\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger raised both hands.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not here to hurt anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger smiled.<\/p>\n Then he looked at Lena.<\/p>\n \u201cYou really didn’t tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n Lena was crying now.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me what?\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger’s eyes moved back to Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat truth?\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger took one slow step forward.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth about Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s heart hammered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger’s smile vanished.<\/p>\n \u201cHe isn’t dead.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThen where is he?\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger looked toward Derek.<\/p>\n And said:<\/p>\n \u201cAsk your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek went completely still.<\/p>\n Michael slowly turned toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek’s face had gone pale.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does he mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou still can’t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell him.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stepped toward Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me what?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked at his brother.<\/p>\n For a moment, he looked like he was about to speak.<\/p>\n Then Travis screamed from the basement:<\/p>\n \u201cDEREK, DON’T!\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone froze.<\/p>\n Michael slowly turned toward the stairs.<\/p>\n Travis was staring directly at Derek.<\/p>\n \u201cDON’T TELL HIM!\u201d<\/p>\n Derek closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Michael whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek opened his eyes.<\/p>\n And finally said:<\/p>\n \u201cI was there.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe night Daniel disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n Lena began crying harder.<\/p>\n Michael’s voice shook.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told me you weren’t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI lied.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked at Noah.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I was trying to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek didn’t answer.<\/p>\n The stranger did.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the fact that Daniel wasn’t the only person in that car.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s face went numb.<\/p>\n Derek looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were three of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cMe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Michael waited.<\/p>\n Derek couldn’t say it.<\/p>\n The stranger finished for him.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cMy father died fifteen years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s what you were told.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the house went dark again.<\/p>\n And when the lights came back on\u2026<\/p>\n The stranger was gone.<\/p>\n So was Lena.<\/p>\n And on the floor where he had been standing was a single photograph.<\/p>\n Michael picked it up.<\/p>\n His hands were shaking.<\/p>\n It showed three men standing beside a car.<\/p>\n Derek.<\/p>\n Daniel.<\/p>\n And Michael’s father.<\/p>\n On the back was one sentence:<\/p>\n THE ACCIDENT WASN’T AN ACCIDENT.<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael looked at his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cDerek\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Derek didn’t answer.<\/p>\n Michael’s voice cracked.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me you didn’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stepped backward.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek looked at Noah.<\/p>\n Then at Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cThree years.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael’s face collapsed.<\/p>\n \u201cThree years?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there’s something else.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Derek whispered:<\/p>\n \u201cDaniel didn’t disappear three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael waited.<\/p>\n \u201cHe disappeared yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n The house fell silent.<\/p>\n Then Michael’s phone buzzed.<\/p>\n One new message.<\/p>\n From an unknown number.<\/p>\n Michael opened it.<\/p>\n There was only one sentence.<\/p>\n NOW YOU KNOW WHY NOAH HAD TO CALL YOU.<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael stared at the screen.<\/p>\n Then another message arrived.<\/p>\n PART 5 WILL TELL YOU WHO WAS IN THE CAR.<\/strong><\/p>\n And beneath it was a photograph.<\/p>\n A photograph taken only minutes earlier.<\/p>\n Michael.<\/p>\n Derek.<\/p>\n Lena.<\/p>\n Noah.<\/p>\n And someone standing behind them.<\/p>\n Someone who shouldn’t have been there.<\/p>\n Someone who looked exactly like Michael.<\/p>\n