Chapter 4 - SOMEBODY KNOWS THE WALLS
Marcus took off after the shadow.
“Marcus!”
Elena grabbed the wall as he disappeared around the corner.
She hated herself for following.
But she followed anyway.
The passage twisted behind the bedrooms, then dropped down a narrow staircase.
Marcus shouted.
“Stop!”
A door slammed below.
By the time Elena reached the bottom, Marcus was standing in an empty laundry room.
The back door was open.
Rain blew inside.
“They got out,” he said.
Elena leaned against a counter, breathing hard.
“You saw them?”
“Just a coat.”
“Red?”
“Dark. I don’t know.”
Victoria appeared in the doorway seconds later.
She was wearing a white robe.
“What on earth is happening?”
Marcus turned slowly.
“There are speakers in the walls.”
Victoria stared.
“What?”
“Hidden speakers.”
Her face went blank.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Marcus held up the audio player.
“I found this.”
Victoria’s eyes flicked toward it.
One second.
That was all.
But Elena saw recognition.
Marcus saw it too.
“Mom?”
Victoria crossed her arms.
“Your father had security equipment installed years ago.”
“This isn’t security equipment.”
“Then maybe one of the staff—”
“It has your voice on it.”
Silence.
Rain rattled the windows.
Victoria’s lips parted.
“My voice?”
Marcus pressed play.
“You were never supposed to have his child.”
Victoria listened.
Then she laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because she was cornered.
“That could have been taken from anything.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Funny. I don’t remember you saying that at Thanksgiving.”
Victoria looked at her.
The warmth disappeared.
“You should go upstairs.”
“Why?”
“You’re shaking.”
“I’m angry.”
“You’re unstable.”
Marcus’s head snapped toward his mother.
“Don’t.”
Victoria turned.
“What?”
“Don’t call her that.”
Elena looked at Marcus.
Finally.
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
“I am trying to protect your wife.”
“From what?”
“From herself.”
Elena’s pulse kicked.
There it was again.
The same message.
The same idea.
Plant it often enough, maybe everyone starts believing it.
Marcus walked toward his mother.
“Who has access to the service corridors?”
“Half the staff.”
“Names.”
“This is absurd.”
“Names, Mom.”
Victoria stared at her son.
Then quietly said, “You’re letting her do exactly what she did to Daniel.”
Marcus froze.
Elena frowned.
“Who’s Daniel?”
Victoria’s eyes stayed on Marcus.
“Ask your wife.”
Elena’s stomach dropped.
Marcus turned toward her.
“What is she talking about?”
“I don’t know.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“Yes, you do.”
Elena shook her head.
“I’ve never known anyone named Daniel.”
Victoria reached into the pocket of her robe.
She removed a photograph.
Set it on the counter.
A younger Elena stood beside a dark-haired man.
His arm was around her.
On the back, written in blue ink:
ELENA + DANIEL
FOREVER.
Marcus looked up.
“Elena?”
Her knees went weak.
Because she knew the man.
May you like
She just didn’t remember the photograph.
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