Chapter 5 - THE GIRL IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Nathaniel returned to the motel before sunrise.
He went alone.
Marcus followed at a distance only because Nathaniel refused to let him come inside.
Room 17 had been closed for years.
The manager barely remembered the reservation.
But when Nathaniel showed him the key, the man's expression changed.
“You've been here before.”
“No.”
The manager stared at him.
“Your wife was.”
Nathaniel felt his stomach tighten.
“Was she alone?”
“No.”
“Who was with her?”
The manager hesitated.
“An older woman.”
“Name?”
“She used the name Eleanor.”
Nathaniel showed him Elizabeth's photograph.
The manager nodded.
“That was her.”
“Did you see a child?”
The man's eyes shifted.
Nathaniel noticed.
“You did.”
“I don't want trouble.”
“You won't get trouble.”
The manager lowered his voice.
“There was a little girl.”
Nathaniel's heart stopped.
“When?”
“The night before the accident.”
“Was she alive?”
The manager looked at him.
“Yes.”
Nathaniel grabbed the edge of the desk.
“Are you certain?”
“I gave her a glass of juice.”
“What happened to her?”
“Your wife left with the woman.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
For five years he had believed Grace died in the car.
Now a stranger was telling him she had been seen alive the night before.
He pulled out the photograph.
“Is this the girl?”
The manager looked at it.
“Yes.”
Nathaniel could barely breathe.
“Why didn't you tell the police?”
“I did.”
“What did they say?”
“They said the girl was probably another child.”
Nathaniel stared at him.
“Did anyone pressure you?”
The manager looked away.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Two men.”
“Names?”
“I don't know.”
“Describe them.”
“One was tall. Gray hair.”
Nathaniel's mind immediately went to Daniel Mercer.
The second man was younger.
“Anything else?”
The manager shook his head.
Nathaniel left.
Outside, Marcus was waiting.
“Sir?”
“Grace was alive.”
Marcus went silent.
Nathaniel handed him the photograph.
“Find out who Eleanor is.”
They returned to the estate.
Maria was waiting.
She looked exhausted.
Lily was asleep on the couch.
Nathaniel sat opposite her.
“Tell me everything Elizabeth told you.”
Maria looked at him.
“I told you what I knew.”
“No.”
He placed the motel receipt on the table.
“The manager remembers Elizabeth.”
Maria's eyes filled with tears.
“She told me not to tell you.”
“Why?”
“She believed you were being watched.”
“By whom?”
“People inside your company.”
Nathaniel leaned forward.
“Who?”
Maria hesitated.
“Daniel Mercer.”
Nathaniel froze.
His brother-in-law.
Again.
The same man whose coat button had been found at the estate.
“What did Daniel do?”
“He met Elizabeth several times.”
“Why?”
“He knew about Grace.”
Nathaniel's voice broke.
“What did he know?”
“That she survived the crash.”
Silence.
Lily woke on the couch.
She rubbed her eyes.
“Mommy?”
Maria hurried toward her.
Nathaniel watched the child.
Then Lily looked at him.
“Sad man.”
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
“I'm here.”
She climbed down.
Then walked toward him.
She held something in her hand.
A small plastic bracelet.
Nathaniel recognized it.
Grace's hospital bracelet.
The one he had seen in the music box.
He stared.
“Where did you get that?”
Lily looked toward the stairs.
“The lady gave it back.”
Nathaniel's heart pounded.
“What lady?”
“The yellow room lady.”
Maria looked frightened.
Nathaniel took the bracelet.
There was something written on the back.
A number.
17-04.
He showed it to Marcus.
Marcus searched the company's old records.
“Warehouse 17, unit four.”
Nathaniel stared.
“That's where we were.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Not exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
“Unit four was sealed ten years ago.”
“Why?”
“Fire damage.”
Nathaniel felt cold.
“Open it.”
They returned to Warehouse 17.
Unit four was behind a rusted steel door.
Marcus cut the lock.
Inside were shelves of burned boxes.
The air smelled of ash.
Nathaniel walked deeper.
Then he saw it.
A child's suitcase.
Pink.
Scorched around the edges.
He recognized the butterfly stickers.
Grace had put them there herself.
Nathaniel dropped to his knees.
Inside were clothes.
A stuffed rabbit.
And a photograph.
Grace.
Alive.
Standing beside Elizabeth.
Both were smiling.
The photograph had been taken after the supposed accident.
Nathaniel turned it over.
There was writing.
We couldn't bring her home. Not yet.
His hands shook.
Marcus found a second photograph.
This one showed Elizabeth with a man.
The man was wearing the same brown coat.
His face was hidden.
But in his hand was a silver watch.
Daniel Brooks's watch.
Nathaniel stared.
Then the warehouse door slammed behind them.
Marcus turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
Older than Nathaniel remembered.
But unmistakable.
Daniel Mercer.
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“You knew.”
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“Yes.”
“Where is Grace?”
Daniel's face collapsed.
“I don't know.”
Nathaniel's voice rose.
“Don't lie to me.”
“I am not lying.”
“Then tell me why my daughter was alive after the crash.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Because Elizabeth made a deal.”
“What deal?”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“She agreed to disappear so Grace could live.”
Nathaniel froze.
“With whom?”
May you like
Daniel whispered,
“Your father.”
