Chapter 3 - The Empty Room
Claire did not obey.
That surprised Eleanor.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Claire—”
“You chased me down a staircase and lied about seeing my husband. You don't get to give orders anymore.”
Together they reached the basement door.
Three locks.
Only one was engaged.
Eleanor stared.
“I locked all three.”
Claire noticed scratches around lower lock.
Fresh.
Someone had opened it.
Eleanor switched on basement lights.
Stone steps descended into a surprisingly finished lower level.
Wine storage.
Mechanical room.
Archive room.
At end stood reinforced door.
Eleanor stopped.
The moan came again.
Claire realized what it was.
A speaker.
Old intercom system produced warped feedback whenever basement door moved.
No trapped person.
No prisoner.
Someone had deliberately used harmless mechanical noise to frighten them.
Claire looked at Eleanor.
“You knew that?”
“No.”
Claire believed her.
That worried her.
The reinforced room was open.
Inside sat table, chair, wall shelves and empty steel brackets.
Something large had been removed.
Eleanor whispered:
“The case.”
Nathan’s steel case was gone.
Claire searched.
On table lay photograph.
Nathan standing beside an older man Claire recognized immediately.
Richard Blackwood.
Eleanor’s late father.
Except Richard had died seven years before Claire met Nathan.
The photograph was dated only four years ago.
Impossible.
Claire looked at Eleanor.
“Your father was alive?”
Eleanor snatched photograph.
“No.”
“Then explain it.”
Eleanor examined background.
Her expression changed.
“This isn't my father.”
The man was nearly identical.
But Eleanor pointed to left hand.
Richard had lost tip of index finger in factory accident.
This man had all fingers.
A double?
Brother?
Claire expected hidden-family twist.
Eleanor shook head.
“My father had no brother.”
Then Claire saw writing on back.
NATHAN — IF CLAIRE EVER SEES THIS, TELL HER THE BASEMENT WAS NEVER FOR HIDING A PERSON.
IT WAS FOR HIDING OWNERSHIP.
Below it:
$84,600,000.
Claire stared.
“What ownership?”
Eleanor's face hardened.
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
Then Claire’s phone rang.
Same unknown caller.
She answered.
“Who are you?”
The voice ignored question.
“Is the steel case still there?”
Claire looked at empty brackets.
“No.”
Silence.
Then:
“Get out of the house.”
“Why?”
“Because Eleanor wasn't supposed to know it was gone.”
Claire slowly looked at her.
Eleanor was staring back.
May you like
Then caller added:
“And Nathan wasn't the one who put it there.”
