THE MAN WHO NEVER KNOCKED

I read the message again as I walked towards the main road YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU DID TO CLAIRE THAT NIGHT The words made my hands tremble I wanted to call the unknown number and demand an explanation but I knew nobody would answer I looked behind me Daniel was still standing outside his apartment watching me I quickly turned away and continued walking Ethan had sent me the location of a small restaurant near the old railway road I had no idea what he wanted to tell me but I needed answers When I arrived he was already sitting at a table near the window His eyes moved towards the photograph in my hand You came he said I placed my handbag on the chair and sat opposite him I brought the photograph just as you asked Now talk Ethan looked around before leaning closer to me Did Daniel tell you everything about Claire No I replied He told me she was taken to Brookhaven Medical Centre and disappeared again He also showed me a visitor record with my name on it Ethan nodded slowly Then you know you were there I stared at him I have a memory of being in a hospital corridor but I don’t remember seeing Claire You were there Amara I saw you that night My throat tightened What was I doing there Ethan rubbed his hands together You were standing outside a hospital room You looked frightened and you kept asking someone to let you see Claire Who was I speaking to I don’t know I was standing at the end of the corridor when I noticed you I wanted to approach you but Daniel appeared before I could He looked angry and he was arguing with a nurse I leaned forward What happened next Ethan lowered his voice Daniel entered Claire’s room and stayed there for several minutes When he came out he was holding something I couldn’t see clearly What was it I asked He looked at me I don’t know but he looked terrified Then he walked towards you and said something I tried to remember the hospital corridor the closed door and the voice warning me that I should not have come there Did Daniel speak to me Yes Ethan answered You looked at him as if you were afraid of him I shook my head That doesn’t make sense Daniel has been trying to help me He gave a bitter laugh Help you or keep you close enough to watch you I stared at him Why didn’t you tell me this three years ago His expression changed Because I was warned not to I felt a chill move through me Who warned you A woman I had never seen before She told me that if I spoke about what happened at the hospital my family would suffer I watched his face carefully And you believed her Ethan looked away I had no choice I pushed the photograph towards him Is this the picture you saw that night He studied it for a moment before nodding Yes But there is something you should notice He pointed at the glass door behind Daniel and Claire I looked closely and noticed a small reflection in the glass There was another person standing behind the camera I brought the photograph closer Who is that Ethan shook his head I couldn’t see the person’s face but I remember the clothes A dark jacket and a silver watch My heart skipped a beat Daniel wore a silver watch the first night I met him I looked at Ethan Are you saying Daniel took this photograph I didn’t say that I am telling you there was someone else there Someone who wanted proof that Claire was alive Before I could ask another question my phone vibrated I looked at the screen It was a message from an unknown number STOP ASKING ABOUT THE HOSPITAL I quickly showed Ethan He read it and his face went pale You need to leave now Why I asked Because whoever sent that message knows where you are I turned towards the window A black car was parked across the road Its headlights were off and its windows were dark I recognised the vehicle immediately It was the same car I had seen outside my apartment the night Daniel first appeared I grabbed my handbag Ethan stood up We need to go through the back entrance I followed him towards the kitchen but before we reached the door my phone rang The caller ID showed Daniel Hayes I stopped walking Ethan turned towards me Don’t answer it I hesitated then picked up Amara Daniel’s voice sounded strained Where are you I looked at Ethan and said nothing I know you’re with him Daniel continued You need to leave that place immediately My stomach tightened How do you know where I am Because I have been trying to protect you from the people who took Claire I closed my eyes Then tell me the truth Daniel Who took her There was a long silence Finally he said I saw Claire that night Amara I froze You told me you never saw her at the hospital I know what I told you But I was afraid of what would happen if you remembered I gripped the phone tightly What am I supposed to remember His voice dropped You were the last person Claire asked to see before she disappeared My breath caught I looked at Ethan but he was staring at me with an expression I couldn’t understand Daniel continued Please come back and let me explain I slowly lowered the phone The restaurant door opened behind us I turned around and saw a man in a dark jacket walking inside His wrist caught the light and I noticed a silver watch Ethan whispered my name We need to move But the man was already looking directly at me.