THE MAN WHO NEVER KNOCKED

Chapter six

I did not sleep that night because every time I closed my eyes I saw Ethan standing somewhere in the darkness watching me with that familiar smile that had once made me believe he was the safest person in the world His message remained open on my phone and I read it so many times that the words began to lose their meaning I know what happened to Claire And I know what you were asked to keep What exactly had I been asked to keep Why could I not remember the night Claire disappeared I had spent three years convincing myself that my memories were complete but now I was beginning to understand that something important had been buried inside my mind The sound of Daniel moving around in the apartment next door interrupted my thoughts I checked the time and saw that it was barely six in the morning I got out of bed washed my face and changed into a pair of jeans and a comfortable sweater I knew Daniel would probably try to convince me to stay behind but I had already made my decision I was going to the lake with him and I was going to find out what Claire had left behind When I opened my apartment door Daniel was standing outside his own door holding two cups of coffee You are awake early he said I could say the same about you I replied He handed me one of the cups and studied my face You did not sleep Did you expect me to sleep after everything you told me yesterday. I asked He looked away for a moment before answering No I suppose not Marcus was waiting downstairs with his car and he greeted us with a tired smile The mystery club is finally going on an adventure he said Daniel gave him a warning look but Marcus only laughed The drive outside Brookhaven was quiet at first The city slowly disappeared behind us and the road became narrower as we approached the lake I watched the trees passing by through the window while my mind returned to Ethan His message had not been answered and I was beginning to wonder whether he was watching us Daniel noticed my silence You are thinking about him he said I turned towards him You mean Ethan Yes Daniel answered Do not reply to his messages until we understand what he knows I folded my arms You cannot keep telling me what to do Daniel I am not your responsibility and I am not your sister He became silent and I immediately regretted the last sentence Marcus glanced at us through the mirror but wisely decided not to interfere After several minutes Daniel spoke again You are right I cannot decide what you do but I can tell you that Ethan is dangerous I looked out of the window again and wondered why Daniel sounded so certain When we finally reached the lake the morning mist was still floating above the water The place was beautiful but there was something unsettling about its silence A narrow wooden path led towards an old boathouse hidden between the trees Marcus parked near the entrance and stepped out with us Daniel looked around carefully before approaching the building This is where Claire used to come whenever she wanted to be alone he explained She said the water helped her think I followed him towards the boathouse and noticed that one of the wooden windows was slightly open Has anyone been here recently I asked Daniel examined the ground There are fresh footprints Marcus moved closer to inspect them Someone came here after the rain Daniel looked at me and his expression became serious Stay close to me I wanted to argue but something about the way he said it made me remain silent The door was locked but Daniel took a small key from his pocket and opened it The smell of dust and damp wood filled the room Inside there was an old wooden bench a broken fishing rod and several boxes covered with pieces of cloth Daniel began searching through the shelves while Marcus examined the floor I noticed a small crescent moon carved into one of the wooden boards It was the same symbol from Claire’s note and the silver key I had found outside my apartment I knelt down and touched it The wood moved slightly Daniel came beside me What is it I think there is something underneath this board Marcus brought a small tool from his bag and carefully lifted the loose piece of wood Beneath it was a narrow space containing a small black box I felt my heartbeat quicken Daniel removed it and placed it on the bench The box had a silver crescent moon engraved on its lid My hands began to shake Claire left this here I whispered Daniel nodded I believe she did He tried opening it but it would not move I remembered the silver key from my apartment and quickly reached into my bag I had brought it with me without knowing why When I placed it into the small lock it fitted perfectly Daniel looked at me with surprise You brought the key I nodded I did not know whether it would be useful but I had a feeling it belonged here The lock clicked and the box opened Inside were several photographs a folded piece of paper and a small memory card Daniel picked up the photographs and his expression changed The first picture showed Claire standing beside a woman I did not recognise The second showed Evelyn Hayes speaking to a man outside a building and the third photograph made my stomach turn It was a picture of Ethan standing beside Rebecca the woman who had disappeared before Claire I moved closer and stared at the image Why would Ethan be with her Daniel did not answer immediately He turned the photograph over and found a date written on the back It was taken three days before Claire disappeared Marcus picked up the folded paper and began reading it His face became pale What does it say Daniel asked Marcus swallowed before answering It says that Rebecca found proof of something happening inside the Hayes company and that Claire wanted to expose it I looked at Daniel What kind of proof He shook his head I do not know but my sister believed it was important enough to risk her life I picked up the memory card and held it between my fingers Maybe this contains the answer Daniel reached for it but I pulled my hand back We are going to find out what is inside it together I said He looked at me for a long moment before nodding Together Marcus found an old laptop in his car and brought it inside but the memory card required an adapter which he did not have We decided to take the box with us and examine everything somewhere safer As Daniel closed the lid of the box my phone vibrated I looked down and saw a new message from an unknown number The message contained only one sentence You found what was never meant for you My blood ran cold I showed Daniel and he immediately looked towards the door Someone knows we are here he said Marcus moved towards the window and looked outside There was nobody on the path but a black vehicle was parked near the trees I recognised it immediately It was the same type of vehicle I had seen outside my apartment the morning after Daniel first appeared at my door Daniel noticed my expression What is it I pointed towards the car Before he could respond the vehicle started moving and disappeared along the narrow road Marcus rushed outside but returned a few moments later It is gone Daniel placed the box inside his bag We need to leave now The journey back to Brookhaven felt longer than the journey to the lake. I kept thinking about the photographs and the woman standing beside Claire I wondered whether she was Rebecca and whether she was still alive When we arrived at the apartment building Daniel offered to examine the memory card at his office but I refused to let him keep it I wanted to know everything and I was tired of being the last person to hear the truth We agreed that Marcus would bring the adapter later that evening and we would examine the files together Before I entered my apartment Daniel stopped me Amara I turned around There is something I need to tell you What is it He hesitated and for the first time since I met him he seemed genuinely afraid When Claire disappeared she was not alone Someone else was with her that night I stared at him You said you were the last person who saw her alive I was the last person who saw her before the other person arrived he replied My chest tightened Who was it Daniel looked towards the end of the hallway before answering I never saw his face but Claire knew him She called him by a name I will never forget I waited for him to continue What name I asked Daniel looked directly into my eyes Ethan he said The hallway seemed to tilt beneath my feet I shook my head That is impossible Ethan was with me that night Daniel stepped closer I know what you believe but I have never told you that Ethan was innocent I could barely breathe I remembered the message on my phone and the photograph inside the box Ethan and Rebecca standing together three days before Claire vanished I wanted to ask more questions but my phone vibrated again It was a message from Ethan and this time there was a photograph attached I opened it and felt every bit of warmth leave my body It showed me standing beside Claire outside a building I did not recognise The date on the photograph was the night she disappeared Beneath it were six words You remember more than you think I looked up at Daniel but he was already staring at the photograph His face had lost its colour Amara he whispered Where did you get this I held the phone tightly Ethan just sent it I answered Daniel took a slow breath and looked at me as though he had just discovered something far worse than he expected Then he asked the question that changed everything What if you were not just the last person Claire called What if you were the person who helped her disappear.