Daniel's patience began to wear thin.
"Mrs. Hayes, your husband disappeared twelve years ago. If he discovered evidence of a criminal organization involving missing children, then keeping that information hidden may have allowed more people to suffer."
Eleanor looked directly into his eyes.
"You think I don't know that?"
Her voice cracked.
"You think I haven't asked myself that question every single day?"
Daniel fell silent.
Eleanor continued.
"I was a nurse. I knew what happened to children who were abandoned, neglected, or forgotten. I knew what their fear looked like. Michael knew that too."
She wiped her eyes.
"But he told me that the people behind it had influence. Money. Friends in places where ordinary people couldn't reach them."
"Did he threaten you?"
"No."
"Then why did you obey him?"
Eleanor looked at the photograph in Daniel's folder.
"Because the night he disappeared, someone called me."
"Who?"
"A woman."
"What did she say?"
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"She told me that if I ever mentioned the little girl again, I would lose someone else."
Daniel slowly closed the folder.
"Someone else?"
Eleanor nodded.
"My younger sister, Rebecca."
CHAPTER 4: THE PRICE OF SILENCE
Rebecca Hayes had been twenty-three when Michael disappeared.
She was studying medicine and working part-time at a children's clinic.
She was also the closest person Eleanor had in the world.
After their mother died, Rebecca had become more than a sister. She was family, friendship, and the last connection to the childhood they had shared.
Three months after Michael's disappearance, Rebecca was involved in a hit-and-run accident.
The driver was never identified.
The case remained unsolved.
Rebecca survived, but she suffered a serious brain injury and lost much of her memory.
She could remember their childhood home.
She could remember their mother.
She could remember the smell of the bakery near their school.
But she could not remember the months surrounding Michael's disappearance.
Eleanor visited her every week.
Sometimes Rebecca smiled.
Sometimes she asked the same questions repeatedly.
And sometimes she looked at Eleanor as though she were a stranger.
The doctors said recovery was possible, but uncertain.
Eleanor never gave up.
She continued paying for treatment, even when her savings disappeared.
She worked extra shifts and sold the house she and Michael had once shared.
For twelve years, she had been carrying two losses.
One man who might still be alive.
And one sister who was alive but could no longer fully return to her.
Daniel listened without interrupting.
When Eleanor finished, he asked one question.
"Why didn't you tell anyone about the phone call?"
"Because the woman knew where Rebecca was receiving treatment. She knew her doctors. She knew the time I visited."
"Did you recognize her voice?"
"No."
"Did she identify herself?"
"No."
"Did she ever contact you again?"
Eleanor shook her head.
"Until tonight."
Daniel looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Eleanor reached into her jacket and removed a folded piece of paper.
It was old, yellowed at the edges, and creased from years of being opened and closed.
Daniel unfolded it carefully.
There were only seven words written on it.
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, REMEMBER LILY.
Below the sentence was a date.
November 14, 2011.
The same date carved into the wooden box.
Daniel looked up.
"Where did you get this?"
"It was inside Michael's desk. I found it after the police finished searching our house."
"Why didn't you mention it earlier?"
"Because I didn't understand it."
"Do you understand it now?"
Eleanor looked toward the dark road.
"No."
Then she added:
"But I think Michael wanted me to."
Daniel folded the paper and placed it inside his jacket.
"We're going to the station."
Eleanor hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because I want to know who sent that message. And I want to find out what happened in Room 317."
She looked at him.
"And if the truth puts Rebecca in danger?"
Daniel's expression softened.
"Then we'll make sure she isn't facing it alone."
For the first time that night, Eleanor considered trusting him.
But she didn't know that Daniel had already received another message.
One that he had not shown her.
It contained a photograph of Rebecca in her hospital bed.
And beneath it were four words.
SHE REMEMBERS EVERYTHING NOW.
CHAPTER 5: THE MAN BEHIND THE PHOTOGRAPH
The police station was nearly empty when Daniel returned.
A few officers worked behind the reception desk, while the night supervisor reviewed paperwork in a dimly lit office.
Eleanor sat in the interview room.
A cup of untouched coffee rested in front of her.
Daniel stood outside with Marcus.
"Have you traced the messages?"
Marcus shook his head.
"They're coming through a temporary server. Whoever sent them knows how to hide their identity."
"What about the photograph?"
"We checked the location. Convenience store on Westbridge Avenue. The image was taken eleven days ago."
"Can we identify the man?"
Marcus handed him a printed report.
"Not yet. But there's something else."
Daniel read the page.
The man in the photograph had purchased bottled water and a newspaper.
He had paid in cash.
The security footage showed him entering the store at 8:16 p.m. and leaving six minutes later.
Daniel studied the still image.