Chapter 2 - The Husband Who Never Came Home
Claire had married Nathan Bennett eighteen months earlier.
Three months ago, Nathan disappeared.
Police found his abandoned SUV beside a highway forty miles from Blackwood Manor. His wallet remained inside. No blood. No evidence of struggle. No body.
Eleanor was Nathan’s aunt and the trustee controlling most of the Blackwood family estate.
She told Claire that Nathan had probably run away.
Claire never believed her.
Then, two weeks earlier, Claire received an anonymous message:
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY NATHAN DISAPPEARED, ACCEPT ELEANOR’S INVITATION.
So Claire came to Blackwood Manor.
Eleanor welcomed her warmly.
For exactly one hour.
Then Claire mentioned Nathan’s financial records.
Eleanor’s demeanor changed.
She locked the front doors and demanded Claire surrender her phone.
Claire pretended to comply.
The caller had predicted that too.
“She’ll try to keep you inside. Make her chase you toward the staircase.”
That was why Claire ran.
But the fall?
That had been real.
The terror had been real.
Only the smile afterward had been planned.
Now Claire stood slowly.
“What do you mean Nathan put something downstairs?”
Eleanor descended the remaining stairs.
“I mean Nathan came here before he disappeared.”
“When?”
“Two nights before.”
Claire’s heart hammered.
Eleanor had told police she hadn’t seen him in months.
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Nathan asked me to.”
Again that name.
Again someone claiming to lie because Nathan wanted it.
Eleanor moved toward the basement corridor.
Then stopped.
“He brought a steel case.”
“What was inside?”
“I never saw.”
“Where is it?”
“Downstairs.”
The moaning returned.
Claire stared toward the dark hallway.
“That isn't a case.”
“No.”
“Then who is down there?”
Eleanor looked genuinely shaken.
“Nobody should be.”
Claire checked her phone.
The call had disconnected.
Then a message appeared from the same unknown number.
DON’T GO DOWNSTAIRS WITH ELEANOR.
Claire’s stomach tightened.
A second message arrived.
May you like
SHE ISN’T AFRAID OF WHAT’S IN THE BASEMENT.
SHE’S AFRAID OF WHAT’S MISSING.
