Chapter 3: The Woman on the Phone
Marcus stared at the message on his phone.
*I know what Vanessa has been doing to Ava.*
A second message appeared.
*And the necklace isn't the worst of it.*
His thumb hovered over the screen.
“Who is it?”” Vanessa asked.
Marcus looked up.
She was standing beside the wardrobe, her face drained of color.
“You tell me.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“You looked at my phone.””
“I was looking at you.””
Marcus turned the screen toward her.
Vanessa read the messages.
Her expression changed.
Not dramatically.
Not enough for someone who didn't know her.
But Marcus knew.
He had spent twelve years learning every small movement in her face.
The slight tightening around her eyes.
The way she pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek.
The quick glance toward the door.
She was calculating.
“Who sent this?”” he asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
“I have no idea.””
Marcus typed one sentence.
*Who are you?*
He pressed send.
The reply came almost instantly.
*Someone who should have spoken sooner.*
Marcus frowned.
“Call them.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Why would I?””
“Because they know things about this house that only someone close to us would know.””
Grace appeared in the doorway.
“Mr. Marcus?””
He looked at her.
“Stay with Ava.””
Grace nodded.
“And don't let Vanessa near her.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“You can't be serious.””
Marcus didn't look at her.
“Grace.””
“Yes, sir.””
“Take Ava downstairs.””
Ava stood beside Grace, holding her stuffed rabbit against her chest.
“Daddy?””
Marcus crouched.
“I need you to stay with Grace for a little while.””
“But—”
“Nothing is going to happen to you.””
Ava looked at Vanessa.
Then back at him.
“Promise?””
Marcus put a hand against her cheek.
“I promise.””
Ava nodded reluctantly.
Grace took her hand.
As they walked away, Ava glanced back once.
Marcus waited until she disappeared down the stairs.
Then he closed the bedroom door.
He turned around.
Vanessa was watching him.
“You're treating me like a criminal.””
Marcus's voice was low.
“I haven't decided what I'm treating you like.””
She swallowed.
“You believe a stranger over your wife?””
“I believe what the cameras showed me.””
“That doesn't explain anything.””
“Then explain it.””
“I already did.””
“No.””
Marcus pointed toward the television of their bedroom.
“You said Grace attacked Ava.””
“I was wrong.””
“You lied.””
“I panicked.””
“You lied.””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“Fine!””
She took a breath.
“Yes, I lied.””
Marcus said nothing.
She wiped her face.
“But I didn't mean to hurt Ava.””
“You slapped her.””
“I lost control.””
“You dragged her toward the stairs.””
“I wanted to scare her.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked down.
“Because she wouldn't listen.””
“To what?””
She remained silent.
Marcus stepped closer.
“The necklace?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because it belonged to me.””
“It belonged to my wife.””
“I am your wife.””
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa looked up sharply.
“You don't get to erase our marriage because you're angry.””
“This has nothing to do with our marriage.””
“It has everything to do with it!””
Her voice echoed through the room.
“You've spent three years treating me like a stranger!””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that have to do with Ava?””
“Everything!””
Vanessa's breathing became uneven.
“She has everything.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“What?””
“She has your attention. Your money. Your love. Every decision you make revolves around her.””
“She is my daughter.””
“I know!””
“Then why are you jealous of a child?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“I'm not jealous.””
“You just said—”
“I said I'm tired.””
She turned away.
“I married a man who promised me a family. And instead, every room in this house is filled with memories of the woman who died.””
Marcus went silent.
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You think I don't see it?””
“This is about her?””
“It's about all of it.””
She pointed toward the wardrobe.
“That necklace was the last thing she left behind.””
“And you wanted it.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Because I thought if I had it, maybe you would finally let go.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You hit Ava over a necklace because you wanted me to forget her?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
The phone buzzed again.
Both of them looked down.
Another message.
*Ask Vanessa where she was on the night of May 14.*
Marcus's brow furrowed.
“May 14?””
Vanessa suddenly looked terrified.
Marcus noticed.
“What's May 14?””
“Nothing.””
“Why did your face change?””
“It didn't.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What happened on May 14?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't remember.””
“You just said nothing happened.””
“I mean, nothing important.””
He held up the phone.
“Someone thinks it was important.””
Vanessa's hands began to tremble.
“Marcus, please.””
“Please what?””
“Let this go.””
“No.””
“You don't know what you're getting into.””
“That sounds like a warning.””
“It is.””
“From you?””
“Yes.””
Marcus stared at her.
Then he called the unknown number.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
A woman answered.
She didn't speak.
Marcus did.
“Who is this?””
Silence.
“Who are you?””
A shaky breath came through the line.
Then a woman's voice.
“I was there.””
Marcus's entire body went still.
“Where?””
“The night your wife died.””
Vanessa's knees seemed to weaken.
She grabbed the edge of the dresser.
Marcus noticed.
His voice became colder.
“You knew my wife?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Another pause.
“Because Vanessa asked me to.””
Marcus's eyes went to his wife.
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
The woman continued.
“I told myself I was only helping her.””
“What did she ask you to do?””
“Watch someone.””
“Who?””
“Ava.””
Marcus couldn't speak for a second.
“Why were you watching my daughter?””
The woman was crying now.
“Because Vanessa was afraid Ava would tell you something.””
Marcus's grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“I don't know exactly what she saw.””
“Then what did Vanessa think she saw?””
“She thought Ava knew about the money.””
Marcus frowned.
“What money?””
The woman exhaled.
“The money Vanessa had been taking from your accounts.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Marcus, don't listen to her.””
He raised one hand.
“Stay there.””
The woman on the phone continued.
“It started small.””
“How much?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why contact me now?””
“Because tonight was the first time I saw her hurt Ava.””
Marcus closed his eyes for a moment.
The pieces were beginning to move.
The necklace.
The secret.
The money.
His daughter.
His dead wife.
“What happened on May 14?”” he asked.
The woman went silent.
Marcus waited.
Finally, she whispered:
“Your wife found out.””
Vanessa suddenly lunged toward him.
Marcus stepped back.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
The phone remained pressed to his ear.
“Found out what?””
The woman answered in a whisper.
“That Vanessa wasn't just stealing from you.””
Marcus's heart pounded.
“What else was she doing?””
No answer.
“Tell me.””
“I can't.””
“You already called me.””
“I know.””
“Then finish it.””
The woman began crying.
“I have proof.””
Marcus looked toward the bedroom door.
“Where?””
“I hid it.””
“Where?””
“In the old nursery.””
Marcus froze.
The nursery had been locked since his wife's death.
Nobody went inside.
Nobody.
Vanessa's face had turned completely white.
Marcus saw it.
“You know what's in there.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“You're lying again.””
“Marcus—”
He walked past her.
“Don't follow me.””
He opened the bedroom door.
Then stopped.
From downstairs came a scream.
Not Ava's.
Grace's.
“Mr. Marcus!””
He ran.
Vanessa ran after him.
Marcus reached the staircase and looked down.
Grace was standing in the foyer.
Ava was gone.
And on the floor beside Grace was Ava's pink stuffed rabbit.
Marcus's blood turned cold.
“Where is my daughter?””
Grace pointed toward the open front door.
May you like
Vanessa stopped behind him.
And somewhere outside, a car engine roared to life.
