Chapter 4: The Woman Who Disappeared
The police searched the mansion until sunrise.
Every hallway.
Every entrance.
Every camera recording.
But whoever had taken the photograph had disappeared without leaving a trace.
Stallone never slept.
He sat in his office staring at the note.
*SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.*
The words kept repeating in his mind.
Daniel sat across from him, holding the repaired photograph frame.
A security specialist had carefully placed the picture back inside.
The crack remained.
Daniel traced it with his finger.
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“Was I really not your only kid?””
Stallone looked at him.
“No.””
The honesty hurt.
But lying hurt more.
“I think someone made sure I didn’t know about them.””
Daniel looked down.
“Were they like me?””
Stallone swallowed.
“I don’t know.””
The boy nodded slowly.
“I wish you knew.””
Stallone moved beside him.
“I do too.””
A knock interrupted them.
Harris entered holding a folder.
“We found Dr. Rebecca Lane.””
Stallone stood immediately.
“Where?””
“Not where you think.””
Harris placed a file on the desk.
“She wasn’t missing.””
“What?””
“She changed her identity.””
“Why?””
Harris opened the folder.
“Because twelve years ago, she reported suspicious activity involving medical records, adoption documents, and financial transfers.””
Stallone looked through the pages.
“She was investigating.””
“Yes.””
“Then why disappear?””
Harris pointed to a photograph.
A younger Rebecca Lane standing outside a courthouse.
“Because the day after she filed her report, someone threatened her.””
Daniel looked up.
“Who?””
Harris hesitated.
“That’s the problem.””
He placed another document down.
“The threat came from an anonymous account.””
Stallone studied the paper.
“Can you trace it?””
“We’re working on it.””
The office phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It was the old landline.
Nobody used it anymore.
Stallone picked it up.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a woman spoke.
“Sylvester?””
His grip tightened.
The voice was older.
Tired.
But familiar.
“Rebecca?””
Daniel watched his father’s face change.
Rebecca Lane exhaled.
“You found the photograph.””
“Yes.””
“You found the file.””
“Yes.””
A pause.
Then Rebecca whispered:
“Then they know I contacted you.””
Stallone stood.
“Where are my children?””
The line became quiet.
“I can’t explain everything over the phone.””
“Then tell me where to meet you.””
Another pause.
“Do you remember the old theater outside the city?””
Stallone frowned.
“The abandoned one?””
“Yes.””
“Why there?””
“Because that’s where I kept the truth.””
Harris stepped closer and mouthed, “Keep her talking.””
Stallone nodded.
“Rebecca, who took my children from me?””
The woman’s breathing changed.
Not fear.
Regret.
“It wasn’t Vanessa.””
Stallone looked toward the doorway.
Vanessa stood there.
Listening.
“What?””
“Vanessa helped hide pieces of the truth.””
Rebecca’s voice lowered.
“But she wasn’t the person who started it.””
“Who was?””
The line went silent.
Then Rebecca said:
“Your brother.””
Stallone froze.
“My brother is dead.””
“I know what you were told.””
The room felt colder.
Rebecca continued.
“He was never supposed to survive the night they erased Emily’s records.””
Stallone’s hand tightened around the phone.
“My brother died twelve years ago.””
“No.””
Rebecca whispered.
“He disappeared twelve years ago.””
The call suddenly cut.
Harris checked the line.
“Disconnected.””
Stallone stared at the phone.
Then Daniel walked over holding something.
“Dad?””
“What is it?””
Daniel opened his hand.
A small piece of paper.
“I found this inside the photograph frame.””
Stallone took it.
It was another hidden message.
Only four words.
*DON’T TRUST YOUR FAMILY.*
Behind it was a location.
And beneath the address was a name.
A name that made Stallone’s blood run cold.
May you like
His brother’s name.
Alive.
