Chapter 5 - The Missing Hour
I showed the message to Daniel.
His face hardened.
"Who is this?"
I shook my head.
The number was blocked.
Another message arrived.
"Ask your mother-in-law about the missing hour."
I looked at Margaret.
She was sitting across the hallway.
She hadn't seen the message.
I walked toward her.
"Margaret."
She looked up.
"What?"
"What's the missing hour?"
Her face changed.
Daniel stood immediately.
"What does that mean, Mom?"
Margaret looked between us.
"I don't know."
I showed her the phone.
She stared at the screen.
Then she began trembling.
"You need to leave."
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you don't understand what your father has been doing."
"Then explain it."
Margaret closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
"Three days ago, your father told me he had made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"He said he had been talking to someone."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Mom."
She looked at Daniel.
"He said someone had been watching the family."
I felt a chill.
"Watching us?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"He wouldn't tell me."
Daniel sat beside her.
"What's the missing hour?"
Margaret swallowed.
"On the afternoon your daughter was born, your father disappeared for almost an hour."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
"He said he had gone to the hardware store."
"Did he?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
"Because I called the store."
She began crying.
"They said he had never been there."
I looked at Daniel.
He was pale.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of Dad?"
Margaret nodded.
"After you were born, your father changed."
Daniel shook his head.
"He was always difficult."
"No."
Margaret looked at him.
"He became obsessed."
"With what?"
"The family."
She wiped her eyes.
"He kept talking about legacy. About bloodlines. About having a grandson."
I looked down at my daughter's hospital bracelet.
Margaret continued.
"He started keeping files."
"What kind of files?"
"Photographs."
Daniel stood.
"Where?"
"His office."
The police officer immediately moved closer.
"Do you know where the office is?"
Margaret nodded.
"Behind the garage."
Daniel looked at me.
"I didn't know there was an office."
"Most people don't."
The officer made a call.
Within minutes, another officer was dispatched to the property.
Then my phone vibrated again.
Unknown number.
A photograph.
It showed Richard standing inside the hidden office.
Behind him was a wall covered with photographs.
My daughter.
Me.
Daniel.
Michael.
Margaret.
Photos from outside our house.
Photos from the hospital.
Photos taken before our daughter was even born.
I stared at the screen.
"Who took these?"
Another message arrived.
"Your father-in-law didn't work alone."
Daniel read it.
His expression changed.
"There's someone else."
The next photograph arrived.
This one showed Richard sitting at a desk.
Across from him sat a woman.
Her face was partially hidden.
But I recognized the coat.
I had seen it before.
At our daughter's baby shower.
I looked at Margaret.
"Who is that?"
Margaret's face went white.
She whispered a name.
"Linda."
Daniel frowned.
"Linda who?"
"My sister."
I stared at her.
"Your sister?"
Margaret nodded.
"She died twelve years ago."
The photograph on my phone suddenly changed.
May you like
The unknown sender had sent another message.
"She didn't."
