MEET CHASE PARKER

Everyone had heard of Chase Parker.

His name was everywhere.

It appeared on the covers of business magazines, in newspapers, on television screens, and in conversations between people who had never even come close to meeting him.

At twenty-nine, Chase Parker was one of the youngest and most powerful tycoons in the country. He was the owner and chief executive of Parker Holdings, a company so enormous that its businesses stretched across real estate, technology, hotels, transportation, and several other industries.

People knew his wealth.

They knew his influence.

They knew his company.

They knew his name.

But there was one thing almost nobody knew.

What did Chase Parker actually look like?

There were no clear photographs of him online. No interviews. No social media accounts. No public appearances.

Whenever Parker Holdings held an important event, Chase never appeared in front of the cameras. Someone else always spoke on his behalf.

Some people claimed he was simply a private man who hated attention.

Others believed he was hiding from someone.

There were even rumors that Chase Parker did not exist at all.

But the Parker family knew better.

He was real.

And now, he was missing.

---

Three days had passed since anyone had heard from Chase.

His family had tried to keep the matter private, but keeping a secret involving one of the country's richest businessmen was almost impossible.

The situation became even more serious when Chase failed to attend an important meeting involving one of Parker Holdings' biggest deals.

His absence had already caused panic among the company's executives.

Inside the Parker family's enormous mansion, Adrian Parker sat across from the family's lawyer, his hands tightly clasped together.

"Search everywhere again," Adrian ordered.

"We have already searched his apartment, his office, the hotel, and the places he usually visits."

"Then search again."

The lawyer remained silent.

Adrian's patience was disappearing.

"Find him."

"We will."

"No," Adrian said sharply. "Don't tell me you will. Tell me you have found him."

The lawyer lowered his eyes.

"We haven't."

Adrian leaned back in his chair.

For the first time, the fear in his eyes was obvious.

Three days.

Three days without a single call.

Three days without a message.

Three days without knowing where his brother was.

The lawyer finally placed a folder on the table.

"There is someone who might be able to help."

Adrian looked at the folder.

"Who?"

"A detective."

---

Her name was Linda Blake.

Linda was twenty-six years old and had built a reputation for solving difficult cases.

She wasn't the kind of detective who enjoyed attention. She preferred working quietly, gathering facts, studying people, and noticing the small details everyone else ignored.

When she received the call concerning Chase Parker, she almost refused.

Missing-person cases involving wealthy families usually came with too much pressure and too many secrets.

But something about the case caught her attention.

The man had disappeared without leaving a trace.

That was unusual.

Very unusual.

By eight the following morning, Linda arrived at the Parker residence.

The mansion was enormous.

Tall iron gates surrounded the property, and several security guards stood around the entrance.

But despite the number of people protecting the house, the atmosphere inside was strangely quiet.

Linda was led into a large sitting room where Adrian Parker was waiting.

He stood when she entered.

"Detective Blake."

"Mr. Parker."

They shook hands.

Linda sat down and opened her notebook.

"Tell me everything."

Adrian took a deep breath.

"My brother disappeared three days ago."

"When was he last seen?"

"Three nights ago."

"Who saw him?"

"His driver."

"Where is the driver now?"

"Being questioned."

"Did Chase say where he was going?"

"No."

"Did he receive any threats?"

Adrian hesitated.

"Not that I know of."

Linda looked up.

"That's not very convincing."

Adrian looked away.

"My brother has enemies."

"How many?"

"I don't know."

"Anyone who has a reason to hurt him?"

"Possibly."

Linda wrote something down.

"Security cameras?"

"Checked."

"Any suspicious activity?"

"No."

"His phone?"

"Switched off."

"His bank accounts?"

"Untouched."

"His car?"

Adrian paused.

"Still here."

Linda's pen stopped moving.

"His car is still here?"

"Yes."

"Then how did he leave?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Linda studied his face.

That was the first thing that bothered her.

The second thing was something she had noticed the moment she entered the house.

There were photographs everywhere.

Photographs of Adrian.

Photographs of their parents.

Photographs of family celebrations.

Photographs from vacations.

Photographs from birthdays.

But there wasn't a single clear photograph of Chase Parker.

Linda closed her notebook.

"I need a photograph of him."

Adrian looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because I'm looking for your brother. I need to know what he looks like."

Adrian seemed uncomfortable.

"Of course."

He walked toward a large wooden cabinet.

He opened several drawers and searched through them.

After a few minutes, he returned with a small photograph.

Linda took it.

A young man stood beside a black luxury car.

His body was facing the camera, but his face was slightly turned away.

"Is this Chase?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a clearer photograph?"

Adrian shook his head.

"That's the clearest one we have."

Linda frowned.

"A man this wealthy doesn't have a single clear photograph?"

"Chase doesn't like cameras."

Linda looked at the photograph again.

Something about it felt strange.

She turned it over.

Nothing was written on the back.

She examined the edges.

Nothing.

Then she looked at the file attached to the photograph.

Her eyes stopped.

There was a date printed underneath it.

October 17, 2029.

Linda stared at it.

She checked the date again.

Then she slowly looked at Adrian.

"What year was this photograph taken?"

Adrian frowned.

"2029."

Linda's expression changed.

"That's impossible."

"Why?"

She turned the photograph around and pointed to the date.

"Because it's 2026."

The room became silent.

Adrian stared at the photograph.

Then he looked at Linda.

"That's not possible."

"That's what I'm saying."

"Maybe the date was printed wrongly."

"Maybe."

Linda looked at the photograph again.

"But who printed it?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Linda stood up.

She walked closer to the window and held the photograph beneath the light.

There was something else she hadn't noticed before.

At the bottom corner of the photograph was a tiny marking.

A series of numbers.

She copied them into her notebook.

"What are those?" Adrian asked.

"I don't know yet."

Linda turned back toward him.

"Where did you get this photograph?"

Adrian swallowed.

"My father gave it to me."

"Where is your father?"

"He's dead."

Linda's eyes narrowed.

"When did he die?"

"Three years ago."

Linda slowly lowered the photograph.

Three years ago.

Exactly three years before the date printed beneath the picture.

She looked down at Chase Parker's face.

For the first time since accepting the case, she felt something other than curiosity.

She felt uneasy.

Because if the date on that photograph was correct, then someone had taken a picture of Chase Parker three years into the future.

And if the date was wrong...

someone had gone to an extraordinary amount of trouble to make her believe it wasn't.

Linda placed the photograph carefully inside her file.

She had come to the Parker mansion looking for a missing man.

But now she had a much bigger question.

Who had taken the photograph?