Chapter 4: The Phone That Shouldn't Have Rung
Marcus stared at the phone.
The number flashing across the screen belonged to Elena.
His wife had been dead for three years.
He knew the number because he had paid to keep it active for six months after the funeral. He couldn't bring himself to cancel it. Sometimes, late at night, he would open their old messages and read the ordinary things she had sent him.
Don't forget milk.
Pick Maya up at four.
Love you. Drive safely.
Eventually, he had stopped paying the bill.
The number should have been disconnected.
Yet there it was.
Ringing.
Marcus answered.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was only breathing.
Then a woman's voice whispered, "Marcus?""
He nearly dropped the phone.
"Who is this?""
"It's Claire.""
He closed his eyes.
"Claire? Why are you calling from Elena's number?""
"I need you to listen carefully. Don't tell Victoria about this conversation.""
Marcus stood.
"What is happening?""
"Did you listen to the recording?""
"Part of it.""
"Then you know Elena was frightened.""
"Claire, I need answers. What did my wife discover?""
A pause.
"Something much worse than stolen money.""
Marcus gripped the phone.
"Tell me.""
"Elena discovered that Victoria and Richard had been meeting with someone inside your company. They weren't simply moving money. They were preparing to take control of the entire family trust.""
"Why?""
"Because Maya's trust was connected to a property portfolio Elena inherited from her father. The properties were worth several million dollars.""
Marcus looked toward the staircase.
"Why would they need Maya?""
"Because she was the beneficiary. They needed a way to make decisions without her consent.""
"She's twelve.""
"Exactly.""
Marcus felt sick.
"How did Elena find out?""
"She found a document with your signature.""
"What document?""
"A guardianship agreement.""
Marcus froze.
"I never signed anything like that.""
"I know. Elena believed someone had forged your signature.""
He looked at the papers on his desk.
"Who had access to my signature?""
Claire didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, "Victoria.""
Marcus heard a faint sound in the background.
A door opening.
Claire lowered her voice.
"Marcus, there's something else. Elena made a second recording. She gave it to someone she trusted.""
"Who?""
"Someone who was at the accident scene.""
Marcus went cold.
"What are you talking about?""
"She wasn't supposed to be driving that night.""
Before he could ask another question, Claire whispered, "I have to go.""
"Claire!""
"Don't trust the wedding planner. And whatever happens, don't let Maya leave with Victoria.""
The call ended.
Marcus stood motionless.
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
"Who was that?""
Victoria.
She was standing in the doorway wearing a cream silk robe, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.
Marcus locked his phone.
"Claire.""
Victoria's expression changed.
"At this hour?""
"She had something to discuss.""
Victoria walked into the room and glanced at the laptop.
"Is that Elena's recording?""
Marcus said nothing.
Victoria approached the desk.
"Marcus, I understand you're upset. But you need to stop digging through the past.""
"Why?""
"Because Elena isn't here to defend herself.""
He stared at her.
"Neither is she here to explain why you were meeting with her three days before she died.""
Victoria's jaw tightened.
"You're making accusations without understanding anything.""
"Then explain the photograph.""
"Your wife was unstable, Marcus.""
He stepped toward her.
"Don't.""
"I'm not insulting her. I'm telling you the truth. She was paranoid. She believed everyone was trying to steal from her.""
"Did you steal from her?""
Victoria laughed bitterly.
"You can't be serious.""
"Four hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars disappeared from Maya's trust.""
"Ask your accountant.""
"I did.""
"Then ask him again.""
Marcus leaned against the desk.
"Why did Elena warn me about you?""
Victoria's face became expressionless.
For a moment, the woman he had loved seemed like a stranger.
Then she reached for his hand.
"Marcus, I know grief has made you vulnerable. I know you still miss Elena. But I am not your enemy.""
He pulled his hand away.
"Go to bed, Victoria.""
She studied him.
Then she picked up her phone.
"Fine.""
At the doorway, she stopped.
"Just remember something. The wedding is in two days. Two hundred guests have already arrived from different states.
Your business partners are attending. Your reputation is attached to this marriage.""
Marcus looked at her.
"Are you threatening me?""
Victoria smiled faintly.
"I'm reminding you of what you stand to lose.""
She left.
Marcus waited until her footsteps disappeared.
Then he opened the recording again.
This time, he didn't stop it.
At seven the next morning, Marcus called Daniel.
"I need you to freeze every account connected to the family trust.""
Daniel sounded exhausted.
"I was hoping you'd say that.""
"Also, get someone to check the security cameras from the week Elena died.""
"Why?""
"Because I think the accident wasn't what we were told.""
There was silence.
Then Daniel said, "Marcus, there's something I've been holding back.""
"What?""
"Your company security archive contains a deleted file from the night of Elena's accident.""
"Who deleted it?""
"The deletion request came from an administrator account.""
"Whose?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Victoria Hayes.""
Marcus sat down.
"Send me everything.""
An hour later, Maya came downstairs.
She found Marcus sitting at the kitchen table with two untouched cups of coffee.
"You're awake early.""
He smiled weakly.
"So are you.""
Maya pulled out a chair.
"Did you sleep?""
"A little.""
She studied his face.
"Is Victoria angry?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Maya looked down.
"She came into my room last night.""
His head lifted.
"When?""
"After you went downstairs.""
"What did she say?""
Maya twisted her fingers.
"She asked where I kept Mom's things.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"What exactly did she ask?""
"She wanted to know if I still had Mom's jewelry box. Then she asked about the silver ring.""
"Did you tell her?""
"No.""
Maya's voice became small.
"She said I was being selfish. She said that after the wedding, some things would belong to her.""
Marcus stood immediately.
"Sweetheart, listen to me. Nothing your mother left you belongs to anyone else.""
Maya nodded.
Then she reached into her pocket.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
She placed a folded piece of paper on the table.
Marcus opened it.
It was a handwritten note.
Elena's handwriting.
If Maya ever tells you that someone asked about the silver ring, please believe her. The ring is not just jewelry. It is the key.
Marcus looked up.
"What key?""
Maya shook her head.
"I don't know. Mom gave me the note with the ring.""
He read it again.
At the bottom, Elena had written:
The truth is where the roses bloom.
Marcus slowly looked toward the garden.
The old rose garden.
The place where Elena had spent countless afternoons with Maya.
The place where the wedding arch now stood.
His phone buzzed.
Daniel had sent an email.
The subject line read:
*SECURITY FOOTAGE RECOVERED — OCTOBER 17*
Marcus opened the attachment.
A grainy video appeared.
A black SUV was parked outside Elena's house.
A woman stepped out.
Marcus recognized her immediately.
Victoria.
But she wasn't alone.
The passenger door opened.
A man climbed out.
Marcus zoomed in.
His stomach dropped.
It was Richard.
May you like
And the timestamp was 11:42 p.m.
Twenty minutes before the accident.
