Chapter 6: Shadows on the Wall
Threats began appearing subtle at first, then direct. One evening, Eleanor found a printed photograph placed under her windshield wiper—a shot of her apartment building taken from a distance, with no note attached.
That night, Lily couldn't sleep. Every creak of the floorboards sent a shiver through the young girl's frame.
""Mommy, is Uncle Arthur outside?"" Lily asked, burying her face into a stuffed bear.
Eleanor sat on the edge of the bed, softly stroking Lily's golden hair. ""No, sweetheart. We have security guards at the main entrance, and Julian is staying in the guest room down the hall. No one can hurt us here.""
Julian knocked gently on the open door frame, holding two mugs of warm milk. ""Everything quiet out there,"" he said with a reassuring nod. ""The police have added extra patrols along this street.""
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Lily looked up at Julian. ""Mr. Julian, why did you take that picture at the party?""
Julian walked over and knelt beside the bed, bringing himself eye-level with the child. ""Because sometimes, Lily, the truth is like a light. When bad things happen in the dark, shining a bright light on them stops them from growing any bigger.""
