Chapter 2 - THE PHONE THAT NEVER EXISTED
Andrew turned to Elizabeth.
“What phone?”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Lucinda laughed.
“Of course she knows.”
“Put the scissors down,” Andrew said.
Lucinda stared at him.
“Andrew, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Put them down.”
His voice was different now.
Hard.
Lucinda slowly placed the scissors on the side table.
Alex kept his arms locked around Elizabeth.
Andrew crouched again.
“Alex, where is Mom’s phone?”
Alex’s eyes moved toward the staircase.
“Upstairs.”
Lucinda immediately said, “He’s confused.”
Andrew ignored her.
“Where upstairs?”
Alex pointed.
“Blue room.”
Lucinda’s face lost all color.
Andrew noticed.
The blue room had belonged to his late wife, Caroline.
After her death, Lucinda had insisted it be locked.
She said the room upset Alex.
Andrew had believed her.
He hated himself for that now.
He stood.
“We’re going upstairs.”
Lucinda stepped in front of him.
“No.”
Andrew stared at her.
“What did you say?”
“That room is full of Caroline’s things. You’re going to drag a traumatized child through his dead mother’s bedroom because of some fantasy?”
Alex suddenly shouted.
“NO!”
Everyone jumped.
It was the loudest sound he had made in months.
He pointed at Lucinda.
“You locked it!”
Lucinda’s mouth opened.
Alex broke away from Elizabeth and ran.
“Alex!” Andrew shouted.
The boy raced up the stairs.
Andrew followed.
Elizabeth was right behind him.
Lucinda stayed frozen for half a second.
Then she ran too.
Alex reached the second floor and sprinted down the long hallway.
At the end stood the blue door.
Locked.
Andrew grabbed the handle.
Nothing.
“Where’s the key?”
Lucinda came around the corner.
“I don’t know.”
Alex looked straight at her.
“Yes, you do.”
Andrew turned slowly.
Lucinda folded her arms.
“This has gone far enough.”
Andrew walked toward her.
“Give me the key.”
“I said I don’t have it.”
Alex whispered, “Her necklace.”
Andrew’s eyes dropped.
A small silver key hung from Lucinda’s neck.
For years, Andrew had assumed it belonged to an old jewelry box.
Now he reached for it.
Lucinda slapped his hand away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Andrew stared at her.
“Give me the key.”
“No.”
Elizabeth stepped closer to Alex.
Lucinda’s eyes flicked toward the stairs.
For one dangerous second, Andrew thought she might run.
Instead, she ripped the chain from her neck.
The key fell into Andrew’s hand.
He unlocked the door.
The room smelled like dust and old perfume.
Caroline’s perfume.
Andrew nearly stopped breathing.
Nothing had been touched.
Her books.
Her photographs.
Her pale blue cardigan on the chair.
Alex walked inside.
He went straight to the window seat.
Then he dropped to his knees.
“Under there.”
Andrew pulled the cushion away.
Nothing.
Alex shook his head.
“Wood.”
Andrew felt beneath the frame.
His fingers found a loose panel.
He pulled.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a black cell phone wrapped in a hand towel.
Andrew stared at it.
Lucinda whispered, “That’s not Caroline’s.”
Alex looked at his father.
“She hid it before she died.”
Andrew pressed the power button.
The screen lit up.
There was no passcode.
May you like
Only one unfinished voice recording.
Dated the night Caroline died.
