Chapter 6 - The Voice in Nathan’s Final Message
Claire played voicemail for Eleanor.
For first time, Eleanor cried.
Not theatrically.
Quietly.
Nathan’s breathing.
Metal scraping.
Then:
“I found out who owns it.”
A distant voice said something unintelligible.
Claire had replayed hundreds times.
Eleanor recognized it.
“Play again.”
Claire did.
Eleanor whispered:
“That’s my father’s old intercom chime.”
Impossible.
Nathan’s final message had been recorded inside Blackwood Manor.
Not highway.
SUV was planted later?
Maybe.
Police records showed vehicle found forty miles away next morning.
No proof Nathan drove it.
Eleanor admitted basement intercom made same distorted tone.
So Nathan was likely in basement night he disappeared.
Yet Eleanor claimed she was in New York.
Travel records confirmed.
Who else had access?
Estate manager.
Security contractor.
Nathan himself.
And Richard’s former accountant:
Martin Shaw.
Martin retained emergency key for archives.
He died six months ago.
Could have been involved.
Then Claire searched basement more carefully.
Behind shelf was old cable port.
Connected to intercom recording system.
Archived audio stored locally.
Most files erased.
One survived.
Timestamp: Nathan’s disappearance night.
Nathan:
“You knew this whole time?”
Male voice:
“I knew what Richard wanted.”
Nathan:
“Claire deserves to know.”
Male:
“Claire isn't beneficiary.”
Nathan:
“That's not what this says.”
Then crash.
Recording ends.
Male voice sounded older.
Could be Martin.
Eleanor recognized.
“Yes. Martin.”
So Martin met Nathan.
Did he kill him?
No evidence.
Then Martin’s estate records showed payment one day later:
$250,000 to Nathan Bennett.
Nathan received money after disappearance.
Where?
Account remained untouched.
Not proof alive; scheduled transfer possible.
Description:
RETURN OF ADVANCE.
Advance for what?
Then anonymous caller texted:
MARTIN DIDN’T HURT NATHAN.
HE HELPED HIM LEAVE.
Claire’s hands shook.
“Then Nathan abandoned me?”
No response.
Minutes later:
NO.
HE WAS TRYING TO COME BACK.
May you like
Then another:
UNTIL HE FOUND YOUR NAME IN THE BENEFICIAL SCHEDULE.
