Progress… does that mean my father has been arrested by the police? What would he tell the police? Would he mention that he also has a missing daughter?
No, he probably wouldn’t… I comforted myself. It’s been so many years since those events. It’s unlikely he would dig up such old matters. He’s just a terrifying memory from my childhood before the age of eight. I couldn’t get any fatherly love from him; all I remember is scolding, verbal abuse, and even physical punishment.
To be honest, his appearance in my mind has already become blurry, perhaps the same for him. I was such an annoying daughter; he probably wanted to get rid of me back then. How could he possibly mention my existence to the police now? He probably forgot about me a long time ago!
Moreover, even if the police find out that he has a daughter, it doesn’t necessarily lead them to me. The reason remains the same; too much time has passed, over a decade, and there’s no way to trace it.
So, as long as I stick to the story from my childhood, insisting that I was kidnapped, everything should be fine!
“What are you thinking?” Suddenly, Cameron’s big hand touched my head. I was startled, shivering all over, and accidentally knocked over the bowl he was holding.
“What’s wrong with you?” Cameron looked at me, then at the scattered pieces on the floor, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
I lowered my head, afraid that he would see through me.
“You’ve hardly taken a few bites before throwing it on the floor… Why waste food?”
I didn’t detect anything unusual in his words. I guess I’m too tense. I can’t be this nervous; I can’t show fear of the police in front of him.
I need to forget that past, yes, just like Carter, selective amnesia. I must forget those painful experiences, forget that I am the daughter of such a person, and portray myself as a victim. Yes, I was a victim; during those times, I was living a life worse than death!
I need to completely forget, the person who killed Anne, it was my father!
…
Afterwards, Patrick did come. As soon as he entered, he and Cameron started playing around like two big kids. After so many years, they could still maintain the friendship of their youth, which was quite rare.
I carefully observed Patrick; he looked similar to how I remembered, just a bit darker and thinner. Now, when Cameron stood next to him, he no longer resembled an underdeveloped.
“Is this Laura?” He walked up to me, grinning, revealing his pearly white teeth.
“Hello, Mr. Murphy,” I greeted him softly.
“Call me Patrick! I grew up with Cameron.”
Patrick sat down in the living room, looked around, and flashed a meaningful smile at Cameron. “Is this what they call ‘hiding the beauty in the golden house’?”
Cameron gave him a fierce punch.
I tried to find an excuse to go upstairs and rest, letting them chat casually. But as I was halfway up, I heard their conversation in the living room.
“How much have you found out about that matter?” It was Cameron’s voice.
Patrick paused and spoke in a low voice, “I asked my friends here to investigate when I was abroad. Now, there’s progress… Recently, our department is actively investigating kidnapping cases, whether recent or from the past. We’ve apprehended a few fugitive kidnappers and murderers, and among them, there’s a high possibility that one of the men is the person who kidnapped and killed your sister back then.”
I stopped in my tracks, holding my breath.
Cameron fell silent for a moment, his voice hoarse and cold, “Can you confirm… that person?”
“That person has a criminal record, involved in multiple kidnapping cases, especially those related to family disputes. To put it bluntly, he is an executioner. But in the main cases he led, there’s only one where he killed someone.”
“Cameron,” Patrick patted his shoulder, “It’s been too long, many things are unclear, and there are no leads. Moreover, these suspects are very cunning, with strong anti-investigation capabilities, so this case is challenging. But let’s not lose confidence; you have to believe me…”
“Is there any other way?”
“There is a way – through blood and fingerprint matching. Sending samples to the forensic department for DNA testing can reveal who kidnapped and killed Anne. However, this is quite complicated, and we need the cooperation of everyone involved in the case back then, and we also need to submit an application for it.”
“Then let’s do it!” Cameron was somewhat excited, “No matter the cost, I must find out who harmed my sister!”
“Cameron…” Patrick spoke in a low voice, “Have you always suspected…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, and by this time, I had lost the strength even to stand straight.
Leaning on the railing of the stairs, my entire spine was soaked in cold sweat.
“Yes, I suspect her,” Cameron also lowered his voice, “Not just me, even my mother has doubted… don’t you think things are too suspicious? If she was kidnapped with my sister, why was my sister tortured like that, while she came out unharmed, just a little scared?”
My legs went weak, and with a thud, my knees hit the stairs. Immediately after, losing my balance, I rolled down the stairs like a ball.
I landed with a dizzy head, and the wounds on my hands opened up again, the freshly bandaged gauze oozing blood once more.
“What happened to you?” Cameron rushed to my side, “Didn’t you go back to rest?”
I looked at him, unable to say anything. I felt my body getting cold, and my heart was pounding.
Cameron didn’t press further and reached out to help me up. “You can trip on a staircase; what else can you do?”
“Laura, are you okay?” Patrick came over, “Did you overhear our conversation?… You don’t have to be nervous; I know you were a victim back then. Cameron shouldn’t suspect you.”
“This guy… over these years, he must have caused you a lot of trouble, this bastard!”
Patrick smiled and casually offered his hand to assist me. With two big men on either side supporting me, I felt a bit overwhelmed.
“By the way, Laura,” he asked me, “How much do you remember about what happened back then?”
My body stiffened, and I shook my head gently.
“Don’t remember anything?”
Biting my lip, I replied, “Don’t remember.”
“That’s alright.” He gave a faint smile, “You were young at that time, and with the shock, it’s normal not to remember.”
“Really?” Cameron interjected, “Laura, can you swear that you don’t remember anything?”
I didn’t dare to look him in the eye. Cameron has never believed me. From the first day I entered The Lynch Family, he was convinced that I was somehow involved in his sister’s death.
So, he found ways to torment me.
Today, when Carter hit me, he rushed into the room and carried me out. Perhaps it was an accident… maybe he happened to be passing by, maybe he just didn’t want too much trouble at home, maybe… there could be some other reason.
In any case, it couldn’t be for me.
I should have seen through this long ago, but why was I still temporarily blinded by his fleeting tenderness?
“I just can’t remember!” I took a deep breath, “Cameron, now in front of a police officer, do you still want to falsely accuse me without any evidence? I’ve had enough of this for over a decade!”
“Laura!” He growled at me.
I shrunk back, somehow finding myself hiding behind Patrick.
“Cameron, calm down!” Patrick intervened, blocking Cameron’s way with his arm.
The air became stifling, making it hard for me to breathe.
After a while, Cameron angrily shook off Patrick’s hand and walked toward the door.
“Laura, come here!” He shouted back at me, “Go home!”
…
The atmosphere in the car on the way home was unusually tense. Cameron drove, and Patrick and I sat in the back seat.
I saw his cold face in the rearview mirror.
I didn’t know what to do next or what would happen when we got home. I was carried out by Cameron, right in front of Carter… And now, with us being gone for so long before returning, Carter must be suspicious.
The Lynch Family might be in chaos by now. And Cameron, now in a fit of rage, couldn’t be relied upon.
I turned my head slightly and glanced at Patrick beside me.
He came at a bad time. Just when things were getting better between me and Cameron, he showed up, talked about the case, and stirred up Cameron’s deep-seated hatred for me.
“Laura,” Patrick gently called me, “Are you… okay?”
“What?” I looked up.
“You don’t look well.” he smiled.
“It’s nothing,” I lowered my head, ” Thanks for your concern.”
“Are your hands okay?”
I gave a bitter smile, “It’s nothing… the fortune teller said I would have a bloody disaster this year. Looks like those things are hard to ignore. I’ve been injured and bleeding frequently lately, but I’ve become accustomed to it.”
Cameron, in front, suddenly let out a cold laugh.
I didn’t say anything more. After a while, I quietly asked Patrick, “Um… I heard you talking about doing DNA testing. Is it something everyone has to do?”