Chapter 3 - Michael Reed
Michael Reed had been Steven’s business partner.
That was news to me.
My husband owned a small residential renovation company. For nine years, I believed he ran it alone.
Apparently Michael handled off-book purchasing, old-property surveys and private renovation jobs.
“Why did I never meet him?”
Steven looked irritated.
“Because he wasn’t important.”
Thomas laughed bitterly.
“He disappeared and suddenly he isn’t important?”
“When did he disappear?”
“Six months ago.”
The same month Thomas married Lucy.
Lucy looked at me.
“That’s when I first saw Steven.”
At her wedding.
Steven had attended with me.
I remembered him disappearing for nearly an hour during the reception.
He said he was taking a business call.
Lucy saw him in the parking lot arguing with Michael.
“What about?”
“I couldn’t hear everything.”
“But?”
She hesitated.
“Michael kept saying, ‘She lives there.’”
I frowned.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Steven interrupted:
“You’re building nonsense out of overheard words.”
Then Thomas asked:
“Where did you go after the wedding?”
Steven stared at him.
“Home.”
“No.”
Thomas pulled out an old invoice.
Timestamped 2:03 a.m.
Supply purchase.
Address:
Our house.
Not the company.
Materials:
Drywall.
Insulation.
Steel framing.
Soundproofing foam.
I looked around.
The scraping inside the wall suddenly felt different.
“What were you building?”
Steven didn’t answer.
Thomas said:
“The hallway.”
Our upstairs hallway had been renovated while I visited my mother for two weeks.
Steven told me the floor had water damage.
When I returned, the walls were thicker.
The closet smaller.
I never questioned it.
Lucy whispered:
“There’s space behind them.”
Steven exploded.
“ENOUGH.”
The sound echoed through the house.
For the first time, his calm disappeared completely.
Then he saw my expression and softened instantly.
“Emily, please.”
“No.”
I stepped backward.
“What is behind the wall?”
“Nothing.”
Lucy moved closer to me.
“Then why did Michael tell Thomas not to let me sleep alone?”
I turned.
“What?”
Thomas looked furious.
“You promised.”
Lucy began crying.
“Michael called me the week before he disappeared.”
“Why you?”
“He thought Thomas wouldn’t believe him.”
My brother looked shattered.
Lucy continued.
Michael told her that if Steven ever invited Thomas and Lucy to stay in this house, she should never sleep in the guest bedroom alone.
“And if Emily is still living there…”
Her voice broke.
“…sleep beside her.”
Steven went pale.
May you like
Lucy looked at me.
“That’s why I’ve been sleeping in your bed.”
