Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS
Claire climbed the staircase slowly.
Ethan followed several feet behind.
The detective kept one hand near his radio.
“Mom?”
No answer.
Claire reached the upper hallway.
A bedroom door stood half open.
She pushed it.
The room was empty.
The window was open.
Curtains moved in the wind.
On the bed lay a photograph of Claire as a child.
Claire picked it up.
Someone had written on the back.
Forgive me.
Claire pressed the picture to her chest.
“She was here.”
The detective examined the window.
“Recently.”
Ethan noticed something on the nightstand.
A prescription bottle.
The label read Margaret Hale.
Claire frowned.
“Who is Margaret Hale?”
The detective took a picture of the label.
“Possibly an alias.”
A car engine roared outside.
Claire ran to the window.
A dark sedan disappeared around the bend.
“Someone just left.”
Ethan rushed downstairs.
By the time they reached the road, the car was gone.
But something had been thrown from it.
A white envelope lay near the mailbox.
Claire opened it.
Inside was a note.
DO NOT TRUST VANESSA.
Claire looked at Ethan.
“Vanessa led us to the locker.”
“And someone knew we were coming.”
Ethan looked toward the empty road.
“Which means either Vanessa told them.”
“Or someone is watching us.”
Claire’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then breathing.
Claire’s heart pounded.
“Mom?”
A woman whispered.
“Claire.”
Claire nearly dropped the phone.
“Mom?”
“Listen to me.”
The voice was older.
Weak.
But Claire knew it.
She knew it instantly.
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Please.”
“I tried to protect you.”
“From Eleanor?”
A pause.
“From all of them.”
Claire frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Anna’s breath trembled.
“Eleanor didn’t kill Jonathan.”
Claire looked at Ethan.
“Who did?”
Anna whispered.
May you like
“The person who killed Jonathan is standing much closer to you than Eleanor ever was.”
The call ended.
