Chapter 5: The Photograph That Should Not Exist
I stared at the photograph in the stranger’s hand.
My mind refused to process what I was seeing.
It was impossible.
The picture showed me standing beside a young woman with long brown hair and a bright smile.
A woman I had never seen before.
A woman Thomas Whitaker had just told me was his missing daughter.
Olivia.
But the person in the photograph was looking directly at me like we knew each other.
Like we had shared a moment.
Like there was a story between us.
And I had no memory of it.
The stranger took another step forward.
"Do you recognize her?""
I didn't answer.
My eyes stayed fixed on the picture.
Thomas moved between us.
"Who are you?""
The man's expression remained calm.
"Someone who needs answers.""
"That's not an answer.""
The man looked at Thomas.
"Neither is pretending you don't know what happened.""
A cold silence filled the store.
I looked between them.
"What is going on?""
Nobody answered.
That scared me more than anything.
Because it meant they both knew something I didn't.
The stranger looked back at me.
"My name is Daniel Cross.""
Thomas's face changed.
Just slightly.
But I noticed.
"You know him," I whispered.
Thomas didn't deny it.
"Yes.""
"Who is he?""
Thomas's jaw tightened.
"Someone who worked with Olivia.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Worked with her?""
He gave a bitter laugh.
"That's what you're calling it now?""
Thomas's expression hardened.
"Not here.""
"Why?""
Daniel looked around the store.
"Because you're worried she might hear the truth?""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
Daniel looked at me.
"You.""
The fear inside me turned into anger.
"I don't know you.""
"No.""
He looked at the photograph.
"But Olivia knew you.""
I shook my head.
"That picture is fake.""
Daniel didn't react.
"Then why was it hidden in her apartment?""
I looked at Thomas.
He looked just as confused as I felt.
"Where did you get that?""
Daniel reached into his coat again.
This time, Thomas moved quickly.
"Don't.""
Daniel stopped.
The tension between them felt like a wire stretched too tight.
Then Daniel slowly pulled out another item.
A small flash drive.
"Olivia left this.""
Thomas stared.
"Where?""
"With someone she trusted.""
"Who?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Emily.""
My heart dropped.
"Me?""
Daniel nodded.
"She believed if something happened to her, you would know what to do.""
I shook my head.
"I don't even know her.""
Daniel looked almost disappointed.
"That's what makes it strange.""
He handed the flash drive to Thomas.
"She spent months researching you.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Why?""
Daniel answered.
"Because Olivia discovered something about your company.""
Thomas became still.
"What?""
"Your financial records weren't being stolen.""
The entire room seemed to freeze.
"What are you talking about?"" Thomas asked.
Daniel looked at him.
"They were being replaced.""
A confused expression crossed Thomas's face.
"Replaced?""
"Someone wasn't leaking information from inside Whitaker Industries.""
Daniel paused.
"They were changing the information before anyone saw it.""
I didn't understand business.
I didn't understand billionaire problems.
But I understood fear.
And Thomas looked afraid.
"Who?""
Daniel looked toward the front doors.
"Someone close.""
The lights flickered again.
Everyone became silent.
Then Daniel lowered his voice.
"And they know Olivia found out.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The picture of me and Olivia.
"Tell me the truth.""
My voice surprised everyone.
I looked at Thomas.
"Have I met your daughter before?""
Thomas didn't answer.
That was my answer.
I stepped back.
"You know.""
His expression softened.
"Emily...""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"I need the truth.""
Daniel watched silently.
Thomas looked exhausted.
Finally, he spoke.
"Six years ago.""
I waited.
"Before Olivia disappeared.""
My heart pounded.
"She was studying at a local community college.""
I frowned.
"Six years ago, I was sixteen.""
Thomas nodded.
"Yes.""
"So?""
"One night, she was attacked.""
The words hit me.
"What?""
"Someone tried to steal her research.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Where was I?""
Thomas swallowed.
"You were there.""
My entire body went cold.
"No.""
"Emily—"
"No.""
I backed away.
"I would remember that.""
Thomas's voice became quiet.
"You were injured.""
"What?""
"You hit your head.""
My hand moved unconsciously toward my temple.
There was a scar there.
A small scar hidden beneath my hair.
My parents told me it came from falling off my bicycle.
But suddenly...
I wasn't sure anymore.
Daniel looked at me.
"You saved her.""
I stared.
"What?""
"You found Olivia after the attack.""
I couldn't breathe.
"You called for help.""
My memories became blurry.
A rainy night.
A dark road.
Someone crying.
A girl holding my hand.
A voice telling me everything would be okay.
I had always thought it was a dream.
But maybe it wasn't.
Thomas stepped closer.
"Olivia never forgot you.""
I shook my head.
"Why didn't she find me?""
"She tried.""
"Then why didn't she?""
Thomas looked down.
"Because someone stopped her.""
The store doors opened suddenly.
A cold wind rushed inside.
Everyone turned.
Two police officers entered.
For a moment, I felt relief.
Finally.
Someone normal.
Someone who could explain everything.
But then I saw Thomas's face.
He wasn't relieved.
He was terrified.
One of the officers smiled.
"Mr. Whitaker.""
Thomas whispered:
"Emily, don't trust them.""
My heart sank.
The officer looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
Then smiled.
"Looks like we found her.""
Found her?
I felt confused.
"Found who?""
The officer reached for his radio.
And the answer came through the speaker.
"Target confirmed.""
My blood turned cold.
May you like
Because they weren't here to protect me.
They were here to take me.
