Chapter 2: The Voice Behind the Wall
Daniel arrived twenty minutes later.
He walked through the front door without knocking, something he'd done since we were children.
“Where's Vanessa?”” he asked.
“In the bedroom.””
“Is Ava upstairs?””
“With the housekeeper.””
He looked toward the staircase.
“Good.””
I folded my arms.
“Why did you say it was good that I hadn't opened the door?””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Marcus, I need you to listen to me.””
“I'm listening.””
“Don't touch that door again.””
“Why?””
“Because you don't understand what you're dealing with.””
I stared at him.
“Then explain it.””
He looked toward the hallway.
“Not here.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Four years ago, Danielle disappeared. You told me she probably left town. You told me to stop wasting money on investigators. You even suggested I move on.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
Daniel didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Did you know she was alive?””
His jaw tightened.
Before he could respond, Vanessa appeared at the top of the staircase.
She was wearing a cream-colored dress now, her hair perfectly arranged.
“Daniel,” she said.
My brother looked up.
“Vanessa.””
There was something strange about the way they exchanged greetings.
No surprise.
No confusion.
Just recognition.
I looked between them.
“Have you two been talking?””
Vanessa descended the stairs.
“Of course. Daniel helped with some of the wedding arrangements.””
“Which arrangements?””
“The venue, the catering. Your brother has been very supportive.””
Daniel cleared his throat.
“Marcus, we should talk privately.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Why privately?””
“Because it's a family matter.””
“I'm about to become his family.””
Her words sounded affectionate.
Her eyes did not.
I turned to Daniel.
“Tell me what you know.””
He looked at Vanessa.
She gave him the smallest shake of her head.
I saw it.
And so did he.
Daniel exhaled.
“Fine. We need to inspect the pool.””
Vanessa's face changed.
“No.””
One word.
Quiet.
Absolute.
Daniel looked at her.
“I'm sorry?””
“You heard me.””
I stepped between them.
“Why can't we inspect it?””
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
“Because the pool foundation is old. If there's a structural issue, we need a professional.””
“Then we'll call one.””
“Not today.””
“Why?””
“Because Ava is here.””
I shook my head.
“She's upstairs.””
“Marcus, please.””
She approached and touched my chest.
“Let's not destroy everything we've built because of something your daughter said.””
I removed her hand.
“I'm not destroying anything. I'm trying to find out whether my wife is alive.””
For the first time, Vanessa raised her voice.
“Danielle is gone!””
The words echoed through the hallway.
A moment later, Ava appeared on the staircase.
She had heard everything.
“Mommy isn't gone,” she whispered.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Sweetheart, go back to your room.””
“No.””
“Ava.””
“No!””
The little girl ran down the stairs and grabbed my hand.
“Daddy, Mommy said you have to play the song.””
I crouched.
“What song?””
“The one you used to sing when she was sad.””
My throat tightened.
Danielle and I had a song.
Not a famous one. Just a little tune we'd made up during our first year together. I used to hum it while rocking Ava to sleep.
After Danielle disappeared, I'd stopped singing it.
I hadn't sung it in four years.
“What did Mommy say about the song?””
Ava whispered, “She said the wall will open when Daddy sings.””
Daniel's face went pale.
Vanessa stepped backward.
I stood.
“What wall?””
Neither answered.
I walked outside.
Daniel followed me.
The pool water was still.
I took a long pole from the storage shed and lowered it into the water, searching for the metal handle.
After several attempts, the pole struck something solid.
There.
I marked the location and climbed out.
Daniel was staring at the house.
“Marcus,” he said quietly.
“You need to stop.””
“Why?””
“Because if she's alive, there's a reason she hasn't come home.””
I turned.
“What reason could possibly justify keeping my wife imprisoned?””
Daniel looked down.
Then he said something that shattered the last piece of trust I had in him.
“Maybe Danielle didn't disappear against her will.””
I grabbed his shirt.
“What are you saying?””
He didn't resist.
“Let go.””
“Did she leave Ava? Did she leave me?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why would you say that?””
Daniel looked toward the house.
“Because four years ago, she came to me.””
My hands loosened.
“When?””
“The night she disappeared.””
My chest tightened.
“What did she say?””
“She was frightened. She told me someone had been following her. She asked me to help her disappear.””
I stared at him.
“And you helped her?””
He shook his head.
“No. I told her to come home.””
“Then what?””
“She said she couldn't. She said there was something in the house that would get all of us killed.””
Before I could ask another question, a sound came from beneath the terrace.
Three sharp knocks.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
We both turned.
The sound had come from beneath the pool.
Daniel backed away.
“Jesus Christ.””
I moved toward the water.
“Danielle?””
Three more knocks.
Then a voice.
Faint.
Distorted.
But unmistakably familiar.
“Marcus?””
My knees nearly gave out.
I leaned over the pool.
“Danielle?””
“Don't open it,” the voice whispered.
I looked at Daniel.
“That's my wife.””
Then the voice spoke again.
“Marcus, listen carefully. Vanessa is not the person you should be afraid of.””
My heart hammered.
“Who should I be afraid of?””
A pause.
Then Danielle answered.
“Your brother.””
I turned.
May you like
Daniel was no longer standing beside me.
He was holding a gun.
