CHAPTER 13

Clara went to her messages and showed him the text. Daniel read it carefully, his expression becoming more serious.

"Where did you get this?"

"I already told you. It was sent to my phone."

"I mean, did the sender use a number you recognised?"

"No. It was an unknown number."

He returned the phone.

"Vanessa has contacted me before using different numbers. We haven't spoken in a long time, but she has a way of appearing whenever she wants something."

"What does she want?"

"I don't know."

"Daniel, you keep saying you don't know. You knew my sister, you knew Vanessa, and now someone connected to both of you is sending me photographs. Do you understand why I'm asking questions?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then tell me everything you remember about Maria."

Daniel took a moment before answering.

"She once asked me whether I knew anyone who could help her with something. I didn't understand what she meant, and she didn't explain further. A few days later, Vanessa told me Maria had travelled."

"Travelled where?"

"She didn't say."

"Did you speak to Maria after that?"

"No."

Clara looked at him. "Not even once?"

"Not after Vanessa told me she had travelled."

"Did you try to contact her?"

"I did. Her number wasn't going through."

The waiter returned to ask whether they wanted anything to eat. Daniel ordered a sandwich, while Clara asked for a small plate of fries. When the waiter left, she returned to the conversation.

"You said Vanessa told you Maria had travelled. Did you question her?"

"Of course I did. But she insisted Maria had made the decision herself."

"And you accepted that?"

"I had no reason to think otherwise at the time."

Clara shook her head slightly.

"You should have told someone."

"You're right. Perhaps I should have."

His answer caught her attention. She had expected another explanation, perhaps even an excuse, but he didn't argue.

Daniel reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and brought out his phone.

"There is something else I think you should know."

He unlocked it, scrolled through a few messages, and placed the phone on the table.

It was an old conversation.

The contact name at the top read Vanessa Cole.

Clara leaned closer.

The messages were dated several years earlier. Most were ordinary exchanges, but one message stood out.

Vanessa: Don't ask about Maria again. It has nothing to do with you.

Clara looked up.

"When was this?"

"About a week after I was told she had travelled."

"Why would she say that?"

"That's what I wanted to find out. I asked her what she meant, but she stopped responding."

"Did you keep the conversation?"

"Yes. I didn't delete it."

Clara looked through the messages again. There were several missed calls and a few unanswered texts, but nothing that explained what had happened to Maria.

"Why are you showing me this now?"

"Because I think Vanessa knows more than she told me. And if she's the one sending you these pictures, she may be trying to get your attention for a reason."

Clara handed the phone back.

"Then we need to find her."

Daniel nodded, though he seemed reluctant.

"I can try contacting her."

"When?"

"I'll see what I can do."

"No, Daniel. I don't want another vague promise. If you know where she might be, tell me."

He looked at her for a moment.

"I know where she used to live. I don't know if she still stays there."

"Give me the address."

"I'll send it to you."

Their food arrived, and the conversation paused while the waiter arranged the plates. Clara ate a few fries, but her attention remained on the photograph between them.

Daniel noticed her looking at it.

"Clara, there's something I haven't told you."

She placed her fork down.

"What?"

"The last time I saw Vanessa, she asked me whether I still had the photographs from that gathering."

"Why would she ask you that?"

"I didn't think much of it then. I told her I had some of them saved, and she asked me not to share them with anyone."

"Did she mention Maria?"

Daniel nodded.

"What exactly did she say?"

"She told me that some things were better left in the past."

Clara stared at him.

"And you didn't find that strange?"

"I did. That's why I stopped speaking to her."

He picked up his glass and took a sip of water.

For a moment, the café's soft music filled the silence between them.

Daniel checked his watch.

"I should probably let you get back to your hostel."

"Send me Vanessa's address as soon as you can."

"I will."

"Alright."

They left the café together. Daniel walked with her towards the entrance before stopping beside the pavement.

"Clara?"

She turned.

"I know this isn't easy, but I genuinely want to help you find out what happened to Maria."

"I hope you mean that."

"I do."

She gave a brief nod and walked towards the road where she could get a ride back to the hostel.

By the time she arrived, her phone had vibrated twice.

The first notification was from Daniel.

Daniel: I'll send you Vanessa's old address tonight. I'll also look through the pictures I still have.

The second notification came from an unfamiliar number.

There was no greeting, only a message.

Unknown: So, you finally spoke to Daniel.

Clara stopped walking.

Another message appeared.

Unknown: I hope he told you why he stopped looking for Maria.

Before she could respond, a photograph arrived.

It showed Vanessa standing outside a building. Beside her was Maria.

Clara enlarged the picture.

The date displayed beneath it was several days after the last time Daniel claimed to have seen Maria.

She looked at the photograph again, then at the message.

Unknown: Now ask Daniel why he lied about the last time he saw your sister.