Chapter 12: The Woman Upstairs
Nobody moved.
The voice came again.
“Claire, where are you?””
Linda looked at me.
“That isn't me.””
The officer immediately moved toward the stairs.
I followed.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
But I couldn't.
The voice was coming from my mother's bedroom.
We reached the top.
The hallway was empty.
Then the bedroom door slowly opened.
A woman stepped out.
She was in her late fifties, wearing a gray coat.
She looked at me.
“Claire Miller?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Helen Price.””
She held up an identification card.
“I work for the county records office.””
The officer lowered his weapon slightly.
“Why are you inside this house?””
“I received an emergency request concerning property records.””
“From whom?””
Helen looked at Sarah.
Sarah shook her head.
“Not me.””
Helen looked at me.
“Your daughter isn't the person who called.””
“Then who did?””
Helen reached into her bag.
“Your husband.””
I stared at her.
“That’s impossible.””
“He left instructions with our office before his death.””
“What instructions?””
“To release certain records only if someone attempted to alter ownership of this property.””
She handed me a sealed packet.
I opened it.
Inside was a notarized statement from my husband.
I read the first sentence.
*If someone attempts to take control of the cottage after my death, assume the person is acting under pressure from Richard Cole.*
I looked at Sarah.
She covered her mouth.
I continued.
My husband explained that Richard had been using shell companies to acquire properties connected to the old business.
The cottage contained evidence.
But the evidence wasn't hidden in the basement.
It was beneath the cottage.
A tunnel.
I looked at Daniel.
“There's a tunnel?””
He nodded slowly.
“That would explain the newer concrete.””
Helen spoke.
“The tunnel connects to an old service structure behind the property.””
My mother had never mentioned a tunnel.
My husband hadn't either.
“Why would Richard want it?””
Helen looked at Sarah.
“Because the records aren't the only thing hidden there.””
Sarah stepped backward.
“What else?””
Helen hesitated.
“Money.””
Silence.
“How much?””
“We don't know.””
The officer immediately called for another unit.
Sarah began crying.
I turned toward her.
“Why didn't you tell me any of this?””
“I was afraid.””
“Of Richard?””
“Yes.””
“Then why help him?””
“Because he told me if I didn't cooperate, he'd expose Dad.””
“Expose him for what?””
Sarah wiped her face.
“He said Dad had stolen money.””
I shook my head.
“My husband wasn't a thief.””
“I know.””
“Then why believe Richard?””
“Because he showed me bank records.””
Helen interrupted.
“Those records were fabricated.””
Sarah looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because your husband reported the same fraud before he died.””
I stared at Helen.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because your husband requested that we wait.””
“Wait for what?””
Helen looked at the floor.
“For you to find the truth yourself.””
The officer's radio crackled.
“Sir, we found an entrance.””
We all turned.
Daniel pointed toward the basement.
“There.””
We descended again.
The concrete section had been opened.
Beneath it was a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
Cold air rose from below.
I held the railing.
My husband's voice suddenly echoed in my memory.
*If you're hearing this, something has happened.*
I took one step down.
Sarah grabbed my arm.
“Mom, don't.””
I turned.
“Why?””
“Because I went down there once.””
My heart stopped.
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
“What did you see?””
She looked terrified.
“Dad's car keys.””
I stared at her.
“His car keys?””
She nodded.
“They were beside a metal door.””
The officer lifted his flashlight.
We descended.
At the bottom was a narrow concrete passage.
At the far end stood a steel door.
And hanging from the handle was a familiar object.
My husband's old leather key ring.
I walked toward it.
Then I saw the bloodstain beneath the door.
Fresh.
The officer raised his hand.
“Everyone back.””
A sound came from inside.
Three slow knocks.
Then a man's voice spoke through the steel.
“Claire.””
May you like
I stopped breathing.
It was my husband's voice.
