Chapter 2 - THE NUMBER 317
Vanessa recovered fast.
Too fast.
“That’s ridiculous.”
She walked toward Adrian with a tight smile.
“Emily was sick. She probably hid random things everywhere.”
Adrian closed his fist around the key.
“My wife wasn’t confused.”
“I didn’t say she was.”
“You were about to.”
Vanessa stopped.
Sophie sat wrapped in two towels, still shaking.
Adrian looked at her.
“Sweetheart, what exactly did Mommy tell you?”
Sophie glanced at Vanessa.
“Can she leave?”
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
Adrian stood.
“Yes.”
“Adrian—”
“Inside.”
“This is my home too.”
“No,” he said quietly. “It’s my home. Right now, you’re a guest who just watched my daughter drown.”
“I told you, she slipped.”
Sophie’s voice cracked.
“She pushed me!”
Vanessa turned.
“You little liar.”
Adrian moved between them so quickly Vanessa stepped back.
“Say that to her again.”
The whole backyard went still.
Vanessa swallowed.
Adrian pointed toward the house.
“Get away from my daughter.”
Vanessa stormed inside.
The second the door closed, Sophie grabbed Adrian’s hand.
“Daddy, Mommy told me the bear was important.”
“When?”
“At the hospital.”
Adrian’s chest tightened.
He hated remembering that room.
The smell.
The machines.
Emily trying to smile while death slowly took everything from her.
“What did she say?”
Sophie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to remember.
“She said, ‘If Daddy ever forgets who to trust, the bear will help him remember.’”
Adrian felt cold despite the afternoon heat.
“Did she say anything else?”
“She said three-one-seven.”
He looked at the key.
“Three seventeen?”
Sophie nodded.
“I thought it was a date.”
Adrian stared at the tiny engraved numbers.
March 17?
Room 317?
Safe 317?
Locker 317?
He pulled out his phone.
Then stopped.
There was one place Emily had used for years.
First National Trust.
She had kept a private safe-deposit box there before they married.
Adrian hadn’t thought about it in almost a decade.
He looked toward the house.
Through the glass doors, Vanessa stood in the kitchen.
Watching them.
And holding her phone.
Adrian stood immediately.
“What’s wrong?” Sophie asked.
“Nothing.”
But something was very wrong.
He took Sophie inside through the side door.
“Go upstairs. Lock your bedroom door.”
Her eyes widened.
“Daddy?”
“Do exactly what I say.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be right behind you.”
Sophie ran.
Adrian entered the kitchen.
Vanessa lowered her phone.
“Who were you calling?”
“My sister.”
“Vanessa.”
“What?”
“Give me the phone.”
She laughed.
“You’ve lost your mind.”
He stepped closer.
“Who were you calling?”
Her face hardened.
“You don’t get to interrogate me.”
Adrian’s phone suddenly vibrated.
Unknown number.
A text message.
He opened it.
Five words appeared on the screen.
DO NOT OPEN BOX 317.
Adrian slowly looked at Vanessa.
She was no longer smiling.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
EMILY DIED FOR A REASON.
