Chapter 11: The Music Box
I reached home in less than twenty minutes.
Two police vehicles were parked outside.
Officer Collins stood near the front entrance, speaking to a uniformed officer.
"What's going on?"" I asked.
Collins turned.
"Vanessa came back with an attorney and a court document. She's claiming you have unlawfully withheld property belonging to her.""
I laughed in disbelief.
"She abandoned the house.""
"She says she was temporarily staying elsewhere.""
"Where is she?""
"Inside.""
I entered the living room.
Vanessa sat on the sofa wearing a cream-colored suit. Her hair was perfectly styled, and a leather handbag rested beside her.
A man in an expensive gray suit stood next to her.
He extended his hand.
"Mr. Reed. I'm Thomas Bell, Mrs. Reed's attorney.""
I didn't shake it.
"Your client is not welcome here.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Actually, Marcus, I have every right to be here.""
She handed Bell a document.
He passed it to me.
It was a temporary petition seeking access to the marital residence and certain personal belongings.
I scanned the pages.
Then I saw something that made my blood run cold.
The petition also requested an emergency review of Noah's guardianship.
Vanessa wanted custody.
I looked up.
"You've got to be kidding.""
Bell adjusted his tie.
"My client has concerns regarding your emotional stability and your ability to provide a safe environment for the child.""
I stared at him.
"Your client forced a nine-year-old to scrub the kitchen floor on his birthday while twelve adults watched.""
Vanessa shrugged.
"He was being disciplined.""
"You also entered my bedroom and threatened my son.""
"That's an outrageous accusation.""
Officer Collins stepped forward.
"Mrs. Reed, we have statements from witnesses and recordings that contradict your account.""
Vanessa ignored him.
She looked at me.
"Marcus, you're making this unnecessarily difficult. Sign the guardianship agreement, and I'll leave quietly.""
I stared at her.
"You think I'm going to give you my son?""
Her smile disappeared.
"Then you'll regret this.""
I turned toward Collins.
"Can you remove her?""
Bell interrupted.
"Unless you have a valid restraining order, my client has a legal right to retrieve her personal belongings.""
Collins looked at the paperwork.
"We'll verify the document.""
Vanessa stood.
"I'll take the music box from Noah's bedroom.""
I froze.
"Absolutely not.""
She gave me a strange look.
"Why? It's just a toy.""
I stepped in front of her.
"Don't go upstairs.""
She laughed.
"You're acting paranoid.""
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a small key.
My stomach tightened.
It was the key to Noah's bedroom.
I had never given it to her.
She had kept a copy.
"How long have you had that?"" I asked.
Vanessa ignored me and headed for the stairs.
Officer Collins followed.
"Ma'am, stay where you are until we verify the paperwork.""
She turned.
"Get out of my way.""
For the first time, her carefully maintained composure completely disappeared.
She shoved past him.
Collins caught her arm.
"That's enough.""
Bell immediately protested.
"This is unacceptable!""
I ran upstairs.
Vanessa was already inside Noah's room.
She stood beside his bookshelf, holding the little wooden music box.
I rushed toward her.
"Put it down!""
She clutched it against her chest.
"You don't understand what you're holding.""
I stopped.
"What did you say?""
Her eyes moved toward the hallway.
Then she whispered, "Sarah stole something that belonged to my family.""
"Your family?""
"Those research files could ruin my father.""
I stared at her.
"Dr. Harrison is your father?""
She went silent.
Then she laughed bitterly.
"Emily told you, didn't she?""
I felt a chill.
"She told me plenty.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Then you know why I can't let you keep that box.""
She tried to open it.
I grabbed her wrist.
The music box fell.
Its wooden lid snapped open.
A tiny melody played.
Then a small compartment slid out from underneath.
Inside was a silver key and a folded photograph.
Vanessa went completely still.
I picked up the photograph.
It showed Sarah, Dr. Harrison, and my father standing outside a research facility.
On the back was a handwritten date.
Three months before Sarah became ill.
Beneath the date were five words.
*THE ORIGINAL TRIAL WAS FALSIFIED.*
I looked at Vanessa.
"What's on the key?""
She lunged.
I moved backward.
Officer Collins stepped between us.
"Nobody touches that evidence.""
Vanessa began screaming.
"You don't know what you're doing! Those files were supposed to be destroyed!""
The room went silent.
Bell slowly lowered his briefcase.
I stared at my wife.
"You just admitted the files exist.""
Her face went white.
Then Noah appeared in the doorway.
"Daddy?""
I turned.
He was holding a small birthday card.
"Mommy left this inside the music box.""
I took it.
Sarah's handwriting covered the front.
*For Noah. When the truth finally comes out, remember that you were loved every single day.*
I opened it.
Inside was a short message.
Marcus,
The silver key opens the storage unit your father rented under Emily's name.
But don't go there alone.
Someone has been watching that unit since the day I died.
I looked at Emily's photograph.
Then I turned toward Officer Collins.
"Can you help me secure a storage unit?""
Before he could answer, Bell's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Then he stepped away to answer.
I watched his expression change.
He looked toward Vanessa.
And whispered something I barely heard.
"She knows.""
Vanessa's face drained of color.
Then Bell turned to me.
"Mr. Reed, I strongly advise you not to use that key.""
"Why?""
He swallowed.
"Because the storage unit was reported destroyed in a fire six months ago.""
I looked down at Sarah's note.
Then I noticed something.
May you like
The paper had a second message written beneath the fold.
*THE FIRE WAS A COVER. THE FILES ARE STILL THERE.*
