“I wasn’t standing with them in that photograph.”
He stepped closer and lowered his voice.
“I was standing against them.”
Captain Hayes appeared in the doorway with Commander Callahan and my parents behind her.
“Step away from her,” Hayes ordered.
Sloane raised his hands.
But his eyes stayed on mine.
“Open it,” he said.
Hayes snapped, “Do not.”
Sloane ignored her.
“Madison, open it now.”
The hallway seemed to hold its breath.
I looked at my father.
His face said no.
I looked at my mother.
Her face said think.
Then I looked at Commander Callahan.
His eyes were fixed on Sloane, not me.
He looked uncertain.
That decided it.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a small plastic memory card and a folded note.
My hands were steady as I unfolded it.
Only one sentence was written there.
In ink faded by time.
IF PARKER’S DAUGHTER FOUND THIS, THEN THE OLD LIE HAS STARTED AGAIN.
My mother whispered, “What?”
I turned the note over.
On the back was a name.
Not Daniel Mercer.
Not Clay Knox.
Not Ethan Vale.
Rebecca Parker.
My mother’s name.
I looked up slowly.
My mother had gone completely still.
My father stared at her.
Commander Callahan’s face changed first.
He understood before I did.
Sloane lowered his hands.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I looked at my mother.
“Mom?”
She did not answer.
