Chapter 6: The Person I Never Suspected
I left the old office with one question burning in my mind.
Who was standing closest to me?
Marcus’s words followed me everywhere.
The person standing closest to you.
At first, I thought about Daniel.
Of course I did.
He had been closest after Marcus disappeared.
He had access.
He had motive.
He had secrets.
But then I remembered something.
Something small.
Something I had ignored.
Daniel was never the only person who knew everything.
There was someone else.
Someone who had been there from the beginning.
Someone who knew Marcus better than almost anyone.
Someone who knew me too.
I drove home with my hands shaking.
Every red light felt like an eternity.
Every passing car made me check the mirror.
I didn’t know who to trust.
And that was the worst part.
Because three years ago, I would have said Marcus.
Without hesitation.
Now I wasn’t even sure if I knew him.
When I arrived home, the front door was unlocked.
I froze.
I always locked my door.
Always.
Slowly, I reached inside my purse and grabbed my keys.
Not because they would help.
But because holding something made me feel less helpless.
I stepped inside.
The apartment was dark.
“Hello?””
No answer.
Then I saw it.
A piece of paper on the kitchen counter.
My name written on it.
*NIA.*
My heart raced.
I opened it.
Inside was a single sentence.
*YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED MARCUS WHY HE LEFT YOU.*
I dropped the paper.
Because I had asked.
So many times.
But Marcus never answered.
The lights suddenly turned on.
I turned around.
Daniel was standing in my living room.
I almost screamed.
“How did you get in?””
He looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Not threatening.
Just tired.
“I have a key.””
“Why?””
“Because after Marcus disappeared, you gave me one.””
I remembered.
A backup key.
For emergencies.
I hated that he was right.
“You need to leave.””
“Nia.””
“No.””
He stepped forward.
“I came here because you’re in danger.””
I laughed.
“Everyone says that.””
“I know.””
His voice softened.
“And I know you don’t believe me anymore.””
“Should I?””
Daniel looked at the paper on the counter.
His expression changed.
“What is that?””
“You tell me.””
He picked it up.
Read it.
Then his face went pale.
“Nia…”
“What?””
“This isn’t Marcus.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“This isn’t how Marcus writes.””
I stared at him.
“How would you know?””
“Because I knew him.””
The words hurt.
Because they were true.
Daniel had known Marcus.
Maybe better than I did.
“Then who wrote it?””
Daniel looked at me.
And for the first time…
He looked afraid.
“I think someone wants us to destroy each other.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Because a part of me believed him.
And I hated that.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
Daniel looked away.
“I can’t.””
My anger returned instantly.
“Then get out.””
“Nia—”
“No. I am done.””
I pointed toward the door.
“Three years ago, I lost Marcus. Tonight, I found out he was alive. Then I found out everyone around me has been lying.””
“Nia.””
“I don’t need another person protecting me.””
Daniel was silent.
Then he reached into his jacket.
He placed something on the table.
A photograph.
I picked it up.
My breath disappeared.
It was Marcus.
But not the Marcus I remembered.
This picture was taken weeks after his disappearance.
He was alive.
Standing beside someone.
Someone I recognized.
Someone I never expected.
My own sister.
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this?””
He swallowed.
“That’s why I never told you.””
My hands started shaking.
“No.””
“Nia…”
“No.””
Because suddenly, every memory changed.
Every conversation.
Every missing piece.
My sister had been there the night Marcus disappeared.
And she had never told me.
The front door opened.
Both Daniel and I turned.
A voice came from the hallway.
“Nia?””
My sister stood there.
May you like
And the look on her face told me one thing.
She knew I had found out.
