Young triplets vanished in 1981 — 30 years later their mom makes a shocking discovery…

We packed it last. As they removed the final layer of memorabilia, the leather-bound album appeared. Walter lifted it gently and placed it on his lap.

The cover was smooth from years of handling, though it hadn’t been touched in decades. They settled side by side on the sofa as Walter opened the album. The first pages showed three identical newborns in the hospital, then three toddlers taking their first steps, birthday parties where candles were blown out in perfect synchronicity.

They were always so in tune with each other, Evie whispered, tracing a finger over a photo of the boys building a sandcastle at the beach. Walter turned the pages slowly, and they paused at each image, recalling the stories behind them. Then they reached the photo they were looking for, the triplets standing in front of their house, wearing their green checkered overalls with yellow straps over long-sleeved shirts.

They were smiling broadly, arms around each other’s shoulders. This was taken the morning they disappeared, exactly an hour before they’re gone, Walter said softly. Evie nodded and leaned closer, studying the overalls.

Look, Walter, the boy at the party, his clothes were similar, but different. The shade of green is different. Ours looked more vintage, while his was more modern, and the checkered lines are thinner in our photo.

The straps are different, too, Walter noted. Similar concept, but definitely not the same garments. Evie rubbed her eyes and sighed.

I feel terrible about how I reacted to that poor boy and his father. What were their names again? Walter replied, The boy is Malvin, and his father is Rowan. They’re pretty new to the neighborhood.

Moved in about three months ago, I think. I should apologize to them later, Evie said, shaking her head. I must have terrified that child.

They continued looking at the photo, reminiscing about that final day. Walter smiled as Evie recounted how Gabriel had insisted on wearing his overalls backward until she convinced him otherwise, and how Noah had already managed to get a grass stain on his knee before breakfast. As Walter poured himself another cup of tea, Evie suddenly poked his arm, almost causing him to spill.

Walter, look at the background, she said urgently. Isn’t that the Cadillac Lucas was such a big fan of? Walter set down the teapot and peered at the photo. In the background, partially visible at the edge of the frame, was the front section of a reddish-brown Cadillac parked across the street.

You’re right, he said slowly, memories surfacing. Lucas was obsessed with cars, especially that one. The boys used to beg to look inside whenever they saw it.

That’s Mr. Howard Fielding’s Cadillac, Evie said, her voice growing more intense. Their school teacher. Remember how he rarely drove it? He told us it was his most cherished possession.

Everyone in the school community knew about that car, Walter agreed. The kids thought it was the most amazing thing they’d ever seen. We were such a tight community back then, Evie murmured.

Everyone knew each other, and Mr. Howard was such a kind man. The children adored him. She turned the photo over, checking for any notes, then back again, examining it more closely.

Walter, are you absolutely sure this image was taken on the day they disappeared? Yes, why? Because Mr. Howard had moved to a different town by then, Evie said, her brow furrowing. Remember how sad all the parents were when he switched schools? The kids loved him so much, we threw him a farewell party at the school the day before he left. Walter frowned.

I’m certain this was taken the morning of their disappearance. They disappeared in the afternoon. But that’s strange, Evie insisted.

Mr. Howard had supposedly moved from town a week before the boys disappeared. So how could his Cadillac be parked there in the photo? Walter set the album aside and rummaged through the box again, searching through the items they had already removed. Finally, he found what he was looking for, the original Kodak photo envelope with the film negatives still inside.

The processing date was stamped clearly on the outside. Look, he said, showing Evie the date. This confirms it.

The film was developed two days after they disappeared. These were definitely taken that morning. Evie rubbed her arms, suddenly chilled despite the warm air in the room.

If that was really Mr. Howard’s car, then he might have seen something suspicious in the neighborhood that day. The police would have questioned him. She paused, thinking.

But they never mentioned interviewing the teacher, which means he must have truly been gone before the boys disappeared. Walter noticed Evie’s increasing agitation and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Evie, it could be a coincidence…