THE MAN WHO NEVER KNOCKED

Chapter seven

For several seconds I couldn’t breathe Daniel’s question hung between us heavier than the silence surrounding the boathouse I stared at the photograph in his hand trying to convince myself that the woman standing beside Claire wasn’t me But the face was unmistakable The dark hair the familiar eyes the small silver necklace resting against her collarbone It was mine I had seen that necklace in my bedroom drawer only hours earlier That’s not possible I whispered Daniel didn’t move Amara look at me I couldn’t My eyes remained fixed on the photograph I don’t remember being there That doesn’t mean you weren’t His voice was quieter now but the suspicion in it hurt more than if he had shouted I finally looked at him You think I helped your sister disappear He looked down at the photograph I don’t know what to think anymore I took a step backwards After everything we’ve been through you can look at me and believe that I’m trying to understand why your photograph was found inside a box connected to Claire’s disappearance Then ask me questions Don’t accuse me of something I don’t remember doing Daniel ran a hand through his hair For the first time since I had known him he looked completely lost The man who always seemed to have an answer was standing in front of me with nothing but questions I reached for the photograph but he pulled it away slightly Please I said Let me see it again After a moment he handed it to me I examined the background carefully Behind Claire and me was a wooden wall a small window and what looked like a sign hanging above a doorway I moved the photograph closer to the light This place I whispered What about it Daniel asked I’ve seen it before His expression changed Where I closed my eyes trying to follow the memory forming at the back of my mind There was a smell of rain Music playing somewhere in the distance Claire laughing A man’s voice calling my name Then everything disappeared I opened my eyes suddenly I don’t know Daniel stepped closer Amara what did you see Nothing clear Just a few seconds Tell me exactly what you remember I shook my head I heard music I saw Claire I think we were talking to someone but I couldn’t see his face Daniel looked at the photograph again The picture was taken on the night she disappeared three years ago I know You were there I know what the picture shows Daniel You don’t have to keep repeating it He looked away and I immediately regretted my tone I was frightened confused and angry but none of those feelings changed the fact that he had spent three years searching for his sister I understood why he needed answers I just couldn’t accept being treated like the enemy Did you know Claire before she disappeared he asked I hesitated I don’t remember meeting her But you were standing beside her in this picture Maybe I did meet her Maybe I forgot I don’t know Daniel studied my face You moved to Brookhaven because of Ethan didn’t you My stomach tightened at the mention of my ex What does Ethan have to do with this He knows more than he’s telling us You keep saying that but you haven’t shown me anything that proves he was involved Daniel reached into his coat and removed the small memory card we had found inside the black box There was a name on one of the files I stared at it Whose name Rebecca The name sounded familiar although I couldn’t understand why Who is Rebecca Someone who worked with Claire She contacted me shortly before Claire disappeared I never got the chance to speak to her And you think Ethan knows her I think Ethan knows why Claire was afraid I looked towards the dark water beyond the boathouse The wind had become colder and the distant sound of a car made me turn towards the road We should leave I said Daniel nodded slipping the photograph and memory card back into his pocket We walked towards the car without speaking When he opened the passenger door for me I paused Daniel Yes If you discover that I was involved somehow will you tell me He looked directly at me I won’t hide the truth from you I nodded and got inside The journey back to the house was quiet I watched the streetlights pass through the window thinking about the photograph and the strange memories it had awakened I had come to Brookhaven to start again I had wanted a quiet life away from the pain of my failed relationship and the questions I could never answer about my past Now I was beginning to wonder whether I had brought those questions with me When we arrived Daniel parked outside the house but didn’t immediately get out You should stay away from Ethan for now he said I turned towards him You don’t get to tell me who I can speak to I’m not trying to control you Then stop making decisions for me He sighed I’m trying to keep you safe From whom Ethan or yourself He stared at me and for a moment I thought he might answer Instead he looked towards my apartment Someone has been inside your house My heart skipped What The back window was open when I came to get you earlier I closed it but I noticed something was different I quickly opened the car door Daniel followed me towards the entrance I unlocked my apartment and stepped inside Everything looked normal at first The cushions were in place the curtains were drawn and my handbag was still on the table Then I noticed the drawer beside the television It was slightly open I walked towards it slowly My fingers trembled as I pulled it out The small space where I kept my personal photographs was empty Daniel I whispered He came closer What is it My photographs I searched the drawer again moving everything around but they were gone Daniel checked the window and then the back door Did you leave these unlocked No He turned towards me Did you notice anyone following you recently I shook my head He took out his phone I’m calling someone to check the property Before he could make the call my phone vibrated on the table An unknown number I stared at the screen One message appeared STOP LOOKING FOR CLAIRE I felt the blood drain from my face Daniel read it over my shoulder Don’t reply he said Another message arrived almost immediately YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER THAT NIGHT My hands began to shake Daniel took the phone gently from me Amara look at me I tried but my eyes were fixed on the message What night I whispered He didn’t answer Instead he turned the screen towards himself and examined the number Whoever sent this knows you’re investigating Or they know something about me Daniel looked at me carefully What if the photograph wasn’t the only thing you forgot Before I could respond a notification appeared on my phone It was a new message from Ethan I read it twice unable to believe the words I KNOW YOU’RE WITH DANIEL DON’T TRUST HIM HE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO CLAIRE I slowly raised my eyes towards Daniel He was already looking at me What did Ethan say he asked I swallowed He says you know what happened to Claire Daniel’s expression changed He reached for the phone but I held it against my chest Amara let me explain I stepped away from him Then explain why my ex boyfriend thinks you are hiding something He opened his mouth but before he could speak another message arrived from Ethan This time there was a photograph attached I tapped it with trembling fingers It showed Daniel standing outside a hospital entrance three years earlier Beside him was Claire But the date beneath the photograph made my heart stop It was taken two days after the night everyone claimed she dis.