Chapter 9: The Voice on the Tape
I found an old cassette player at a thrift store forty minutes away.
I didn't tell anyone.
Not Greg.
Not Marissa.
Not Richard.
Not even Mr. Bennett.
By sunset, Claire and I were sitting at the kitchen table with the tape between us.
The cardboard box remained open.
Dad's handwriting stared back at me.
*FOR ELENA — WHEN SHE'S OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW.*
I turned the cassette over.
There were no dates.
No explanation.
Just one word written on the other side.
*TRUTH.*
Claire looked at me.
"You don't have to listen tonight.""
"I do.""
"Why?""
"Because Mom hid it.""
Claire nodded.
"Then let's hear why.""
I inserted the tape.
The machine clicked.
Static filled the kitchen.
Then a man's voice.
My father's.
Older than I remembered.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
"Elena, if you're hearing this, then I'm probably gone.""
I stopped breathing.
Claire reached across the table and took my hand.
The tape continued.
"I don't know how old you'll be. I don't know if your mother will ever let you hear this.""
I looked toward the dark windows.
Mom.
Always Mom.
"Your mother believes she's protecting you.
She isn't.
She's protecting Marissa.""
My eyes filled with tears.
Claire whispered, "Oh, God.""
Dad continued.
"I need you to know what happened with the money.
Marissa did take it.
But she didn't take it for herself.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Claire stared at the machine.
The tape hissed.
"She took it because someone threatened her.""
I looked at Claire.
"Who?""
Dad's voice answered before I could ask.
"His name is Richard.""
I froze.
The tape continued.
"My brother discovered that Marissa had made a mistake. She had signed papers she didn't understand. Richard used those papers to control her.
He told her that if she didn't move money into an account he controlled, he'd expose her.
She was nineteen.
She was terrified.
I found out too late.""
I covered my mouth.
Richard had told us a completely different story.
Claire whispered, "Keep going.""
Dad's voice became quieter.
"I confronted Richard.
He denied everything.
So I made a decision.
I transferred the property rights to Elena.""
I stared at the deed in the box.
"Not because I loved Elena more.
Because she was the only person Richard couldn't manipulate.
I knew Marissa was already under his control.
I knew if I left her the property, he'd eventually take it from her.
So I created a trust.
The house would eventually belong to Elena.
The money would be divided between both daughters.
But Richard would receive nothing.
The tape clicked.
Then silence.
I stared at the machine.
"That's it?""
Claire shook her head.
"No.""
The machine was still turning.
I pressed play.
Static.
Then Dad's voice again.
"There's one thing I haven't told your mother.
If Richard ever comes back, do not trust him.
He will claim the old partnership agreement gives him rights.
It doesn't.
I destroyed the original.
My heart pounded.
"What?""
Dad continued.
"The document Richard has is a copy.
The original was signed over to me.
And I placed the original in a safe deposit box.
The key is in the house.
Not the beach house.
Our old house.""
The tape clicked off.
I sat motionless.
Claire finally spoke.
"Your childhood home?""
I nodded.
"We sold it after Mom died.""
"Who bought it?""
I thought.
Then remembered.
"Marissa.""
Claire stared at me.
"What?""
"She bought Mom's house.""
"Why?""
"She said she wanted to keep it in the family.""
Neither of us spoke.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number again.
*Did you listen?*
I typed:
Who is this?
The reply came immediately.
*Someone who knows Richard isn't telling you everything.*
I looked at Claire.
She shook her head.
"Don't respond.""
Another message appeared.
*The original deed is not in the safe deposit box.*
My heart stopped.
*It's in the wall.*
I typed:
Which wall?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Nothing.
"Great," Claire said.
"Cryptic anonymous texts.""
I stood.
"Call Mr. Bennett.""
He answered quickly.
"Elena?""
"Did Dad have a safe deposit box?""
"Yes.""
"Was it closed?""
"After his death.""
"Did you ever see the original property agreement?""
Silence.
"Mr. Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"Was it destroyed?""
Another pause.
"No.""
My heart raced.
"Where is it?""
"I don't know.""
"That's not what Dad said.""
"What did your father say?""
I looked at the cassette player.
"He said you knew.""
Mr. Bennett exhaled.
"I suspected.""
"That's different.""
"Elena, listen to me carefully.""
His voice had changed.
"Do not go to your old house alone.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard has been looking for that document for years.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your mother made me promise.""
"Another promise.""
"She believed the truth would put you in danger.""
I stood up.
"Am I in danger now?""
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Claire grabbed her coat.
"We're going.""
"Where?""
"Your old house.""
I called Marissa.
She answered immediately.
"Elena?""
"Where are you?""
"At the hotel.""
"Come to the old house.""
Silence.
"Why?""
"Because Dad left something there.""
She didn't speak.
"Marissa?""
"I'm coming.""
The old house sat on a quiet street twenty minutes inland.
Marissa had renovated the outside, but the structure was the same.
The porch where Mom drank tea.
The kitchen where Dad taught me to crack eggs.
The hallway where Marissa and I used to race each other.
We entered through the front door.
Marissa looked around.
"I haven't been here since Mom's funeral.""
"That's a lie.""
She looked at me.
"What?""
"You've been here.""
"Once.""
"Why?""
She swallowed.
"I was looking for something.""
"The deed?""
She nodded.
"I couldn't find it.""
Claire frowned.
"You knew?""
"Richard told me it existed.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of Richard?""
"Yes.""
I believed her.
For the first time, completely.
We searched Dad's old office.
Drawers.
Shelves.
Closets.
Nothing.
Then Marissa stopped.
"The wall.""
"What?""
"Mom had a loose panel.""
She pointed toward the bookshelf.
We moved it.
Behind it was a narrow wooden compartment.
Inside sat a metal box.
I opened it.
There was a key.
And a folded piece of paper.
I unfolded it.
Dad's handwriting.
*The person you trust least may be the person who saved you.*
I stared at the words.
Marissa whispered, "Richard?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Then who?""
Before I could answer, the front door downstairs slammed.
We froze.
Claire whispered, "Someone's here.""
Footsteps moved through the hallway.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then a man's voice came from downstairs.
"Elena.""
Richard.
Marissa grabbed my arm.
"He followed us.""
The footsteps stopped beneath the office.
Richard called again.
"I know you found the key.""
I looked at the metal key in my palm.
Then at the locked cabinet beneath Dad's desk.
A tiny keyhole waited there.
I inserted the key.
It turned.
Inside was a thick envelope.
On the front were four words:
*READ THIS BEFORE RICHARD.*
I opened it.
The first page contained a photograph.
Dad.
Mom.
Richard.
And a fourth person.
A woman I didn't recognize.
Marissa looked over my shoulder.
Then screamed.
"I know her.""
I turned.
"Who is she?""
Marissa pointed at the photograph with a trembling finger.
"That's Richard's wife.""
I stared at the woman.
"But Richard told us she died twenty-five years ago.""
Marissa shook her head.
"She didn't.""
The footsteps outside the office stopped.
Then the doorknob began to turn.
May you like
And from the other side, Richard whispered:
"Now you know why your mother had to lie.""
