Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Danielle
Tasha refused to explain the name.
Instead, she demanded that we leave her bedroom.
“Everybody out,” she said.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“It's Marcus's house too.””
“Then he can stay. Your sister-in-law doesn't need to be here.””
I looked at my wife.
“Eleanor Price. Who is she?””
Tasha picked up a handbag from the dresser.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“There's a phone number beside her name.””
“People write down phone numbers. It doesn't mean anything.””
“There's also a note about transferring items before I find out.””
Her face hardened.
“You're twisting everything.””
I placed Danielle's bracelet on the dresser.
“Then explain it.””
Tasha stared at the bracelet.
Finally, she said, “Eleanor was a friend of Danielle's.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She knew your first wife.””
“How?””
“They met years ago.””
“Where?””
Tasha sighed.
“I don't remember.””
Vanessa gave a disbelieving laugh.
“You don't remember where a woman you supposedly trusted came from?””
Tasha pointed toward her.
“Stay out of this.””
I raised my hand.
“Enough. Tasha, I want the truth.””
She walked toward the bedroom door.
“I'm not doing this tonight.””
“Then we'll talk tomorrow.””
She stopped.
“You're threatening me?””
“No. I'm asking you to explain why you have my dead wife's belongings locked in your closet.””
Tasha looked at me for several seconds.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Danielle wasn't the perfect woman you remember.””
I stepped forward.
“Don't.””
“She had secrets, Marcus. You just never noticed them.””
“Be careful.””
Tasha laughed bitterly.
“You've spent six years treating her like a saint. Maybe you should ask why she kept things from you.””
I stared at her.
“What things?””
She didn't answer.
Instead, she walked downstairs.
Vanessa waited until we heard the front door close.
“She knows something.””
“I know.””
“And she's terrified that you've found it.””
I looked at the notebook.
“I need to speak to Eleanor.””
The next morning, I called the number from the notebook.
A woman answered after four rings.
“Hello?””
“Is this Eleanor Price?””
There was a pause.
“Who is asking?””
“My name is Marcus Reed. I'm Danielle's husband.””
Silence.
Then I heard a sharp breath.
“Oh, my goodness.””
“You knew my wife?””
“Yes.””
“Do you know Tasha?””
Another pause.
“Why are you asking?””
“Because I found your name in a notebook belonging to her.””
Eleanor became very quiet.
Then she asked:
“Did she give you the bracelet?””
“No. I found it in a locked box.””
“Oh, Marcus.””
Her voice trembled.
“You need to come and see me.””
“Why?””
“Because there are things about Danielle that you deserve to know.””
I gripped the phone.
“What things?””
She hesitated.
Then she said:
“Your wife asked me to keep something safe before she died.””
I closed my eyes.
“What?””
“Not over the phone. Please.””
“Eleanor, I need an answer.””
She sighed.
“Do you remember the small wooden music box Danielle used to keep in her bedroom?””
I did.
It had belonged to Danielle's grandmother.
After she died, I had searched everywhere for it.
I assumed it had been packed away with the rest of her belongings.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Do you know where it is?””
“No.””
Eleanor's voice dropped.
“Then Tasha has probably found it.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Why is that music box important?””
“Because Danielle hid something inside it.””
“What?””
“A letter.””
“From whom?””
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“From someone who knew what was going to happen to her.””
The line went silent.
“Eleanor?””
“I'm sorry. I can't say more until we meet.””
She gave me an address.
A small house on the other side of town.
Before hanging up, she added:
“Marcus, don't tell Tasha you're coming to see me.””
I arranged for Vanessa to collect the children from school.
I didn't want them alone with Tasha while I investigated what was happening.
At noon, I drove to Eleanor's address.
She was waiting on the porch.
She looked to be in her early sixties, with silver hair and a worried expression.
The moment she saw me, she covered her mouth.
“You look just like Danielle.””
I swallowed.
“People say that sometimes.””
She invited me inside.
Her living room was filled with photographs and old books.
On a small table stood a framed picture of Danielle.
She was smiling, holding a cup of coffee.
I stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
“Danielle gave it to me.””
I sat down.
“Please tell me what is going on.””
Eleanor folded her hands.
“Your wife came to see me three months before she died.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“She was worried about her children.””
“What do you mean?””
“She said she had been receiving strange messages from someone connected to your family.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
Eleanor looked toward the window.
“She never told me the person's name.””
“Did she tell you what the messages said?””
Eleanor nodded.
“She showed me one.””
She walked to a cabinet and removed a small folder.
Inside was a printed email.
The date was six weeks before Danielle's death.
I read it.
You need to stop interfering. The children will be better off if you let things happen naturally.
The sender's name had been removed.
I looked up.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know.””
“Did Danielle tell you?””
“No. She was afraid.””
I leaned forward.
“Afraid of what?””
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
“She believed someone wanted to separate you from your children.””
I stared at her.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“She told me she had discovered something about your finances. She thought money was disappearing from an account connected to the children's future.””
I immediately remembered the notebook.
The withdrawals.
The false expense entries.
“Did she mention Tasha?””
Eleanor hesitated.
Then nodded.
“She said she'd met her.””
My heart began pounding.
“When?””
“Before Danielle died. Tasha had approached her, claiming she was interested in helping with a community charity project.””
I felt cold.
“Are you telling me Tasha knew Danielle before we met?””
Eleanor looked at me.
“Yes.””
I stared at the photograph on the table.
Three years earlier, Tasha had told me she knew nothing about my first wife except what I'd shared.
She had said she wanted to build a new life with me.
She had said she loved my children.
And now I was discovering that she had known Danielle before she ever entered my home.
“Why didn't Danielle tell me?””
Eleanor lowered her head.
“She was going to.””
“When?””
“She planned to meet you the weekend before she died.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
“She had a letter. She wanted to explain everything.””
I stared at Eleanor.
“But she died before that weekend.””
Eleanor nodded slowly.
“I know.””
I looked down at my hands.
For six years, I'd believed Danielle had left without warning.
Now I was hearing that she had been preparing to tell me something.
Something important.
Something that might have changed everything.
“Where is the letter?””
Eleanor shook her head.
“I gave it back to her.””
“Where did she keep it?””
“In the music box.””
I stood.
“Where is that box?””
Eleanor looked frightened.
“I don't know.””
“Then why did you say Tasha might have found it?””
“Because I saw her carrying it.””
“When?””
“About two weeks ago. She came to my house.””
My jaw tightened.
“What did she want?””
“She asked whether I still had any of Danielle's personal papers.””
“Did you?””
“No.””
“Did you tell her about the letter?””
Eleanor shook her head.
“No. I told her I'd never heard of it.””
I paced across the room.
“Why didn't you call me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Tasha?””
Eleanor nodded.
“She told me something before she left.””
“What?””
Eleanor looked directly at me.
“She said you would never believe what Danielle had done.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from Vanessa.
Marcus, I found the music box.
I immediately called her.
She answered breathlessly.
“Where?””
“In the storage room. Behind the old Christmas decorations.””
“Open it.””
“I did.””
“And?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Marcus, it's empty.””
I closed my eyes.
Then she added:
“Except for one thing.””
“What?””
“A photograph.””
“Of whom?””
“Danielle.””
I waited.
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“She isn't alone in the picture.””
“Who is with her?””
My sister took a breath.
“It's Tasha.””
I stared at Eleanor.
May you like
Then Vanessa said the words that made everything worse.
“Marcus, they're standing outside the hospital where Danielle died.””
