CHAPTER 14 The House Where Anna Vanished
The old Hale property sat miles away from the city.
Nobody had used it for years.
The building was abandoned.
But Richard knew immediately.
Something had happened there.
The air felt wrong.
Like the house remembered things nobody wanted to discuss.
Marcus followed him inside.
"Are you sure about this?"
Richard looked forward.
"No."
A pause.
"But I need answers."
They searched every room.
Until they reached the basement.
A locked metal door stood at the end of the hallway.
Marcus looked at Richard.
"Another locked room."
Richard opened it.
Inside was a small office.
Not abandoned.
Maintained.
Someone had been using it recently.
On the desk were documents.
Photos.
And a computer.
Richard turned it on.
There was only one folder.
Named:
SOPHIE.
His hands tightened.
He opened it.
Inside were medical reports.
Photos.
Surveillance images.
Someone had been watching Sophie since she was born.
Richard felt sick.
"This isn't protection."
Marcus whispered.
"This is obsession."
Then they found a video file.
Recorded three years ago.
The date was the day Anna died.
Richard pressed play.
The screen showed Anna.
Alive.
Sitting in this same room.
She looked scared.
But determined.
"If Richard finds this..."
She looked directly into the camera.
"Please believe me."
Richard froze.
Anna continued.
"I never lied because I didn't love you."
A tear moved down her face.
"I lied because loving you put you in danger."
Richard stepped closer.
The video continued.
"Vanessa is not the person you think she is."
A pause.
"She is only following orders."
Richard and Marcus exchanged a look.
Orders?
From who?
Then Anna said the words that changed everything.
"The person controlling Vanessa is someone you trust more than anyone."
The video suddenly stopped.
The file ended.
Richard stared.
"No."
Marcus looked at him.
"What?"
Richard didn't answer.
Because deep down...
He already knew.
Someone close.
Someone trusted.
Someone who had access to everything.
Then the basement lights went out.
A voice came from behind them.
"You should have left the past buried."
May you like
Richard turned.
Vanessa stood there.
