Chapter 2

Chapter Two: The Name on the File

Nora stared at her phone long after the call ended.

The screen had already gone dark, but she continued looking at it as though the woman's voice might somehow return if she waited long enough.

He was with you the night your father died.

The words kept circling through her mind.

Her father had been dead for eight years.

As far as Nora knew, Lucas Reed had never been part of her family's life.

Yet the woman on the phone had spoken his name as though there was something Nora should have known about him.

The door opened.

Nora immediately looked up.

Her mother stood in the doorway.

Evelyn Hayes looked exhausted. Her hair was loosely tied behind her head, and there were traces of tears around her eyes. The moment she saw Nora sitting upright with the phone in her hand, her expression changed.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Evelyn said softly.

She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

Nora allowed herself to be held for a few seconds before gently pulling away.

“Mum, I need to ask you something,” Nora said.

Evelyn sat beside the bed.

“What is it?”

“Did Dad die eight years ago?”

Evelyn's expression became guarded.

“You know he did.”

“Was Lucas Reed with him that night?”

Evelyn went completely still.

Nora watched her mother's face carefully.

She did not need another answer.

The silence had already given her one.

“Who told you that name?” Evelyn asked.

“Lucas was here.”

Her mother looked toward the door.

“He should not have been here,” Evelyn said.

“Why?”

“Because you should not be speaking to him.”

Nora felt a knot forming in her stomach.

“Why should I not speak to him?”

Evelyn looked at her for several seconds before lowering her eyes.

“Because he brings trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“The kind your father spent years trying to escape.”

Nora's breathing became slower.

She had spent most of her life believing that her father's death had been a terrible accident. He had been driving home late one evening when another vehicle had crossed the road and collided with his car. That was the story she had been given.

Her mother had never suggested anything different.

Neither had Daniel.

Yet now, within a few hours of waking, Nora had heard three different people imply that there was more to her father's death.

“Dad's death was not an accident, was it?” Nora asked.

Evelyn looked away.

“Your father made enemies,” she said.

“What kind of enemies?”

“People who wanted something from him.”

“What did they want?”

“I do not know.”

Nora stared at her.

“You do know.”

“I know enough to tell you that you should stop asking questions.”

A bitter laugh escaped Nora.

“That is what everyone keeps telling me.”

Evelyn looked at her sadly.

“Because we are trying to protect you.”

Nora shook her head.

“Protect me from what?”

Her mother did not answer.

Nora's frustration was beginning to overwhelm her.

“I have lost an entire year of my life, Mum. I wake up and discover there is a man I apparently loved, my father may have died under circumstances nobody wants to explain, and a stranger just called me to tell me that Lucas was with Dad the night he died. You cannot stand there and tell me that I should simply stop asking questions.”

Evelyn reached for her hand.

“I am your mother, Nora. I am asking you to trust me.”

“I do trust you,” Nora replied quietly. “That is why it hurts that you will not tell me the truth.”

Before Evelyn could answer, someone knocked on the door.

The two women turned.

Maya Collins entered the room carrying a small paper bag and a bouquet of flowers.

“Nora,” Maya said, smiling with visible relief. “You are finally awake enough to look annoyed with people again.”

Nora managed a small smile.

“I was already annoyed before you arrived.”

Maya laughed softly and placed the flowers beside the bed.

“I knew you were getting better.”

She leaned forward and hugged Nora carefully.

“I have been waiting three weeks to do that,” Maya said.

“I am sorry I worried you.”

“You did more than worry me.”

Maya pulled away and wiped at her eyes.

“I thought I was going to lose you.”

Nora reached for her hand.

“I am here.”

Maya nodded.

Then her eyes moved toward Evelyn.

Something passed silently between them.

Nora noticed.

“What?” Nora asked.

Maya looked back at her.

“What do you mean?”

“You and Mum just looked at each other.”

“We did not.”

“You did.”

Maya gave a nervous smile.

“Nora, you just woke up. You are probably imagining things.”

“No,” Nora said. “I am not.”

Maya's smile faded.

Nora looked from her best friend to her mother.

“You both know something.”

Neither woman answered.

Nora felt a painful disappointment settle inside her.

“I need somebody to tell me the truth.”

Maya sat down.

“I wish I could.”

Nora looked directly at her.

“Why can't you?”

Maya's eyes became wet.

“Because I promised.”

“To whom?” Nora asked.

Maya looked down at her hands.

“To you.”

Nora frowned.

“When did I ask you to make a promise?”

“Before the accident.”

“What did I ask you to promise?”

Maya hesitated.

“I cannot tell you.”

Nora closed her eyes briefly.

It was becoming unbearable.

Lucas had said the same thing.

Her mother was refusing to answer her.

Maya had made a promise.

Everyone seemed to know something about the missing year except her.

The door opened again.

Daniel entered.

Nora's older brother stopped when he saw the three women.

He looked from Nora to Evelyn and then to Maya.

“What happened?” Daniel asked.

Nora studied him.

“Why does everyone look frightened?”

Daniel's expression tightened.

“Nobody looks frightened.”

“You do.”

“I am just surprised to see you sitting up.”

Nora did not believe him.

“Were you with Dad the night he died?”

Daniel's expression changed.

“No.”

“Was Lucas Reed?”

Daniel looked at their mother.

That brief glance told Nora more than an answer would have.

“You know him,” Nora said.

Daniel sighed.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“He was involved in some of Dad's business dealings.”

“What kind of dealings?”

“I do not know.”

Nora stared at him.

“You do know.”

“I know that Lucas was around your father near the end.”

“Then why did you tell me you did not know him?”

“I never said I did not know him.”

“You said he was not part of our family.”

“He wasn't.”

“Was he with Dad when he died?”

Daniel hesitated.

“Yes,” he finally said.

Nora felt her stomach twist.

“How do you know?”

“Lucas told me.”

“When?”

“Years ago.”

“Why would Lucas tell you?”

“I do not know.”

Nora studied her brother's face.

“You are lying.”

Daniel's voice became frustrated.

“Nora, you do not understand what happened.”

“Then explain it.”

“I cannot.”

“Why?”

“Because you asked us not to.”

Nora stared at him.

“What did I ask you not to do?”

Daniel looked at her with an expression she could not understand.

“You asked us not to tell you what happened.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It will when you remember.”

“When will I remember?”

“I do not know.”

Nora looked around the room.

Her mother was silent.

Maya was crying.

Daniel looked as though he wished he could leave.

Her phone vibrated on the bedside table.

Everyone looked at it.

Nora picked it up.

Another message from the unknown number had appeared.

You are asking the wrong people.

Her heart began beating faster.

A second message arrived before she could respond.

Look inside your father's old office.

Daniel noticed the message.

His face changed immediately.

“Delete it,” he said.

Nora looked at him.

“No.”

“Nora, delete it.”

“Why?”

“Because whoever sent that message knows things they should not know.”

“Then I need to know who it is.”

“You need to stay away from this.”

Nora placed the phone beside her.

“Where is Dad's old office?”

Daniel stared at her.

“You are not going there.”

“Where is it?”

“Nora.”

“Where is it?”

Daniel rubbed a hand across his face.

“It is at home.”

“I am going there.”

“You cannot.”

“Why?”

“Because it has been locked since Dad died.”

“Then I will unlock it.”

Evelyn immediately stood.

“No.”

Nora turned toward her mother.

“Why?”

Evelyn's voice trembled.

“Because there are things in that room that should stay there.”

Nora felt a chill pass through her.

“What things?”

“I do not know.”

“You just said there are things in there.”

“I meant memories.”

Nora stared at her.

“You are afraid of that room.”

Evelyn looked away.

Daniel stepped forward.

“Nora, please.”

“No.”

“You need to rest.”

“I have spent enough time resting.”

“Nora.”

“I lost a year of my life while everyone else apparently kept living it. I am done sitting in a hospital bed while people decide what I am allowed to know.”

Daniel reached into his pocket.

Nora watched as he slowly removed a small brass key.

Her eyes moved from the key to his face.

“You have it.”

Daniel closed his fingers around it.

“I was keeping it safe.”

“For eight years?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because Dad gave it to me.”

“What did he tell you?”

Daniel was silent.

Nora stepped closer.

“What did Dad tell you?”

Daniel looked at their mother.

Then he looked back at Nora.

“He told me that if you ever asked for the key, I was supposed to give it to you.”

Nora's forehead creased.

“That does not make sense.”

“There was one condition.”

“What condition?”

Daniel swallowed.

“You had to remember Lucas first.”

The room became silent.

Nora looked at him.

“What does Lucas have to do with my father's office?”

Daniel shook his head.

“I do not know.”

“You have been holding this key for eight years.”

“Yes.”

“You knew about Lucas.”

“Yes.”

“You knew he was with Dad before he died.”

“Yes.”

“And you expect me to believe you do not know what is inside that room?”

Daniel looked down.

“I looked inside.”

Nora's voice became quieter.

“What did you find?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing that made sense.”

“Then why are you afraid?”

Daniel finally looked at her.

“Because I am afraid of what you will remember when you open that door.”

---

Two hours later, Nora stood outside her father's old office.

The rest of the house was quiet.

Evelyn had refused to come.

Maya had wanted to accompany Nora, but Daniel had insisted that he should be the one to go with her.

Now he stood several feet behind her as she held the brass key.

“You are certain you want to do this?” Daniel asked.

Nora looked at the locked door.

“No,” she admitted. “But I need to.”

She inserted the key into the lock.

The mechanism clicked.

Nora pushed the door open.

A faint smell of dust and old paper greeted her.

Nothing had changed.

Her father's desk remained exactly where it had always been.

The bookshelves were still filled with the same books.

His old leather chair stood behind the desk.

Nora stepped inside.

She had not entered the room since the funeral.

At least, that was what she remembered.

She walked toward the desk and slowly placed her hand against its surface.

Something strange happened.

A sudden image flashed through her mind.

Her father was sitting behind the desk.

Lucas stood near the window.

Nora was crying.

Her father was shouting.

Then the image disappeared.

Nora pulled her hand away.

Daniel noticed her expression.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Lucas was here.”

Daniel's face tightened.

“What?”

“I remembered him standing here.”

Daniel did not answer.

Nora walked around the desk.

She opened the first drawer.

It was empty.

She opened the second.

Nothing.

The third contained several old pens, receipts, and a broken pair of glasses.

She opened the bottom drawer.

A small wooden box sat inside.

Nora lifted it carefully.

“What is that?” Daniel asked.

“I do not know.”

She opened the lid.

Inside was a photograph.

Nora picked it up.

Her father stood in the center.

Lucas stood beside him.

And Nora stood on the other side.

They were all smiling.

Nora stared at the photograph.

She looked younger.

Happy.

Comfortable.

Lucas was holding her hand.

Her fingers trembled.

“When was this taken?” she asked.

Daniel stepped closer.

“October.”

Nora turned the photograph over.

A date had been written on the back.

October 14, 2025.

The beginning of the year she could not remember.

Beneath the date was another sentence, written in her father's handwriting.

If Nora ever forgets this year, find the second photograph.

Nora's heart began beating rapidly.

She looked at Daniel.

“Where is the second photograph?”

Daniel's face became pale.

“I do not know.”

“You are lying.”

“I am not.”

“You know where it is.”

Daniel shook his head.

“I swear I do not.”

A voice came from the doorway.

“I do.”

Nora turned.

Lucas stood there.

Daniel immediately moved between them.

“You should not be here,” Daniel said.

Lucas ignored him.

His eyes remained fixed on Nora.

Nora held up the photograph.

“You knew about this.”

Lucas nodded.

“Yes.”

“You knew my father kept it here?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because you were not ready.”

Nora laughed bitterly.

“Everyone keeps deciding what I am ready for.”

Lucas stepped into the room.

“I was trying to keep you safe.”

“I did not ask you to.”

“You asked me to.”

Nora's expression hardened.

“Do not use that against me.”

“I am not.”

“Then tell me about the second photograph.”

Lucas became silent.

Nora stepped closer.

“What is it?”

Lucas looked at Daniel.

Then back at Nora.

“The photograph your father took on the night he died.”

Nora's heart sank.

“Where is it?”

Lucas's jaw tightened.

“I cannot give it to you.”

“Why?”

“Because you will remember everything.”

Nora stared at him.

For the first time since waking up, the thought of remembering no longer frightened her.

What frightened her was the possibility that everyone around her already knew exactly what she had forgotten.

She took another step toward Lucas.

“Give me the photograph.”

Lucas shook his head.

“No.”

Nora's voice became firm.

“Why?”

Lucas looked directly into her eyes.

“Because the last time you saw it, you begged me to make sure you never saw it again.”

Nora stopped breathing.

A sharp pain suddenly struck behind her eyes.

The room blurred.

She saw a photograph.

A dark road.

Rain against glass.

Lucas shouting her name.

Her father standing beside a car.

And then a sound that made her whole body freeze.

A gunshot.

Nora stumbled backward.

Daniel caught her before she fell.

“Nora!” Daniel shouted.

She clutched her head.

“I remember…”

Lucas rushed toward her.

“What do you remember?” he asked.

Nora looked at him through blurred vision.

Her voice barely came out.

“My father…”

She swallowed.

“He was not alone.”

Lucas went completely still.

Nora looked between him and Daniel.

“There was someone else in the car.”

Neither man spoke.

And suddenly Nora understood why everyone had been so afraid of her memories.

Because whoever had been sitting in that car with her father was someone she already knew.