Chapter 2 - What Ethan Saw
Daniel turned so fast he nearly dropped the iron tool.
“What did you say?”
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
The boy was scared.
Daniel could see it now.
Not normal fear.
Not the fear of a child who had been caught breaking a rule.
This was the fear of somebody who had been warned exactly what would happen if he spoke.
“Ethan.”
His son swallowed.
“I saw her.”
“Saw who?”
“Vanessa.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“Daniel, don’t listen to him.”
Officer Grant tightened his grip on her arm.
“Ma’am, stop talking.”
Ethan looked toward the broken wall.
“Three nights ago.”
Daniel crouched in front of him.
“What happened three nights ago?”
“I came downstairs because Sophie was crying.”
Sophie clung to Daniel’s sleeve.
“She hears Mom.”
Daniel glanced at her.
“What do you mean?”
“Knocking.”
Vanessa laughed once.
It was a sharp, ugly sound.
Officer Grant looked at her.
“Something funny?”
“She’s eight years old. She has nightmares.”
Sophie stepped behind her father.
Ethan continued.
“I heard noises too. In the hallway.”
“What kind of noises?”
“Like someone hitting wood.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“So I came down,” Ethan said. “Vanessa was standing right there.”
He pointed toward the opposite wall.
“She had a screwdriver.”
Daniel stared.
“She was taking off the molding.”
“No.”
Vanessa’s voice was suddenly low.
“Ethan.”
The boy flinched.
Daniel stood.
“Don’t say his name.”
Vanessa looked at him.
For the first time since he had known her, the mask slipped completely.
There was no softness.
No embarrassment.
No wounded wife pretending she was misunderstood.
Just anger.
“You have no idea what those children have done to this family.”
Daniel felt something twist inside him.
Officer Grant spoke into his radio.
“I need crime scene and homicide at the Mercer residence. Possible remains discovered.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
Daniel heard the words, but they seemed far away.
Possible remains.
He looked back at the opening.
The blue fabric was still there.
He remembered buying Claire that coat in Boston.
She had rolled her eyes at the price.
“You know normal people buy coats without turning it into a financial event, right?”
He could almost hear her voice.
Almost.
Then Ethan tugged his sleeve.
“There’s another room.”
Daniel looked down.
“What?”
“Behind the library.”
Vanessa exploded.
“No!”
She twisted violently, trying to break free.
Officer Grant forced her against the wall.
“Hands behind your back!”
Daniel stared at his son.
“How do you know?”
“I followed her.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
“You followed Vanessa?”
Ethan nodded.
“She went into the library after midnight.”
Daniel felt sick.
He had been in Chicago for work.
Vanessa had told him the children were asleep.
“She moved the big bookshelf.”
“That shelf weighs hundreds of pounds.”
“It moves.”
Vanessa stopped struggling.
Daniel saw fear flicker across her face.
Real fear.
Ethan noticed too.
“She pressed something under the desk.”
Daniel looked at Grant.
The officer nodded toward the library.
“Show us.”
Vanessa shouted after them.
“Daniel, you do not want to open that room.”
He stopped.
Slowly turned.
“Why?”
She smiled.
It was the coldest smile he had ever seen.
“Because you’re going to find out Claire lied to you too.”
Daniel stared at her.
Then Sophie whispered beside him.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
She pointed toward Vanessa.
“She used to talk to Mommy.”
Daniel’s heart stopped.
“What?”
“After Mommy disappeared.”
May you like
Vanessa’s smile vanished.
And Daniel realized the nightmare inside the wall might only be the beginning.
