CHAPTER 12

PRESENT DAY

Clara jerked back to the present, her breathing uneven.

The phone was still in her hands.

For several seconds, she simply stared at it, trying to make sense of the memories that had resurfaced.

Maria had been frightened.

That much was clear now.

She had been breaking things, jumping at sudden noises, and withdrawing from the people she loved. She had looked as though she wanted to tell Clara something, but she had never found the courage—or the opportunity—to do so.

And then there was Daniel.

Why had he been standing beside Maria?

When had the picture been taken?

Had they known each other before Maria disappeared?

Clara stared down hard at the photo the stranger had sent, as though staring might help her uncover Maria's disappearance

Nothing immediately answered her questions.

She looked at Daniel's face again.

A growing sense of unease settled over her..

But what if Maria hadn't left willingly?

What if the fear Clara had noticed that morning had been a warning she hadn't understood?

And what if Daniel knew something about what had happened?

Clara opened her messages and found Daniel's name.

Her thumb hovered over the screen.

she typed.

Clara:pick out a time on Saturday,send me the location, let's meet, you'll explain everything you know.

she pressed send, immediately it showed blue tick and a reply came instantly.

Daniel: Alright, thanks for giving me a chance to explain.

I'll send the location and time.

Clara became nervous.

What if he gave her an explanation that sounded convincing but wasn't true?

Clara looked down at the photo once more.

Maria was smiling.

Daniel had his back to her, his face had a look on his face which meant trouble.

She tightened her grip on her phone.

She would find out who Daniel really was to Maria.

And if he knew anything about her sister's disappearance, she would make him tell her.

Even if the truth would hurt her.

Clara was still sitting at her desk when her phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen and saw Daniel's name.

Daniel: Saturday, 2 p.m. There's a quiet café on Westbrook Avenue. I'll send you the address.

A second message followed almost immediately, containing the location.

She read the messages again before replying.

Clara: Saturday is fine. I'll be there.

Daniel: Thank you. I'll see you then.

On Saturday morning, Clara attended to a few school activities before returning to her room to prepare for the meeting. She chose a simple outfit, checked that she had the photograph, and confirmed the address Daniel had sent.

At exactly 1:40 p.m., she left the hostel.

The café was not far from the main road. It had large glass windows, wooden tables, and soft music playing in the background. A few customers occupied the tables, while a waiter moved between them carrying orders.

Daniel was already there.

He sat near the window, dressed in a dark shirt and black trousers. When he noticed Clara approaching, he stood.

"Clara."

"Hi."

"Thank you for coming."

She pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down.

Daniel returned to his seat. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Water is fine."

He signalled to a waiter and placed the order before turning his attention back to her.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Clara opened her handbag, removed her phone and went to her gallery sourcing for the picture.

when she found it ,she placed the phone on the table

"perhaps we should get straight to the point."

He nodded. "That's fair."

"Who is she?"

Daniel studied the picture.

"Her name is Maria."

Clara's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

"You know her?"

"Yes."

"How?"

He looked up at her. "I knew her through someone I used to work with."

"Someone?"

"A woman named Vanessa."

Clara waited for him to continue.

"Vanessa and I knew each other a few years ago. She introduced me to Maria. At the time, I didn't know much about her family or where she came from. We met a few times, mostly when Vanessa was around."

"I didn't know Maria was your sister."

Clara frowned. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I'm not asking you to believe everything immediately. I'm trying to explain what happened."

The waiter arrived with their drinks. Daniel paused until the waiter had left before continuing.

"Maria was a quiet person when I first met her. She didn't talk much about herself, but she was friendly. Vanessa was the one who usually arranged our meetings."

"What did Vanessa want with her?"

Daniel leaned back slightly.

"That's something I never fully understood. Vanessa had a habit of keeping people around her, but she rarely explained why she brought them together."

Clara glanced at the photograph again.

"And this picture?"

"It was taken at a private gathering. Vanessa invited several people, and Maria was there. I remember taking a few pictures that evening, but I didn't know this particular one would become important."

"Who sent it to me?"

Daniel's expression changed.

"How did you receive it?"

"Someone sent it anonymously."

"Did you get a message with it?"

"Yes. They wanted me to see you standing beside Maria."

Daniel looked down at the photograph.

"I was afraid it might be Vanessa."

"Why?"

"Because she knew about the picture. She was there when it was taken."

Clara studied his face.

"So you know the person who sent it?"

"I know someone who could have sent it. I can't say for certain without seeing the message."

"Her name is Vanessa?"

"That's my suspicion."