Chapter 3: Sarah's Letter
I spun around.
“Who's there?””
No answer.
Margaret grabbed a kitchen knife.
“Stay with Emma.””
I stepped forward.
The hallway was dark.
A narrow strip of moonlight fell through the window at the end.
Then a shadow moved.
“Come out!””
A figure stepped from the darkness.
I raised my fist.
“Daniel, stop!””
The voice belonged to Claire.
She walked into the light.
Her hair was soaked from the rain.
Her breathing was uneven.
And she looked terrified.
I lowered my hand.
“Claire?””
She glanced toward the front door.
“Is Vanessa outside?””
“Yes.””
Claire shut her eyes.
“Then we have minutes.””
I stared at her.
“You sent me the video.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Sarah asked me to.””
I held up the envelope.
“And this?””
Claire nodded.
“She wrote it for you.””
I stepped closer.
“Why did you lie about her being dead?””
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't.””
I frowned.
“Then why did Margaret say—”
“She didn't die the way you were told.””
The room went silent.
Margaret slowly lowered the knife.
I looked at both women.
“Start talking.””
Claire shook her head.
“Not here.””
I pointed toward the front door.
“Vanessa is outside.””
“I know.””
“She knows about the video.””
“I know.””
“She knows about these letters.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me what the hell is happening!””
Emma began crying.
I immediately lowered my voice.
“I'm sorry.””
Claire looked at my daughter.
“Emma, sweetheart, do you remember what your mommy used to tell you about the red box?””
Emma nodded.
“The box under Daddy's bed.””
My heart skipped.
“What red box?””
Claire looked at me.
“You don't know?””
“No.””
Emma whispered:
“Mommy said Daddy would find it when I was old enough.””
I stared at my daughter.
“Emma, did Mommy say anything else?””
“She said…”
Emma's eyes moved toward the window.
“She said Vanessa must never find it.””
My blood ran cold.
I turned toward Claire.
“What's in the box?””
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“Why Sarah was afraid of your wife.””
I shook my head.
“Sarah loved Vanessa.””
Claire's expression hardened.
“No, Daniel. Sarah trusted her.””
There was a difference.
Before I could respond, the front door rattled.
Vanessa shouted from outside.
“Daniel!””
Claire whispered:
“She'll destroy everything if she gets inside.””
I looked at Margaret.
“Is there another exit?””
“Back door.””
“Then we're leaving.””
Margaret grabbed her coat.
Claire took Emma's hand.
We moved through the kitchen.
But before I reached the back door, I heard glass shatter at the front of the house.
Vanessa had broken the window.
“Daniel!””
I froze.
Her voice was no longer calm.
“You have no idea what you're doing!””
Claire pulled Emma behind her.
“Go!””
I opened the back door.
Rain poured into the kitchen.
We ran.
My shoes slipped on the wet grass as I carried Emma toward the car.
Claire climbed into the passenger seat.
Margaret got into the back beside Emma.
I started the engine.
As we pulled away, Vanessa appeared at the broken window.
She wasn't crying.
She wasn't screaming.
She was smiling.
That frightened me more than anger would have.
I drove several blocks before Claire finally spoke.
“You need to read Sarah's letter.””
I handed her the envelope.
“Open it.””
Claire shook her head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because she said you had to open it yourself.””
I looked at the envelope.
My name.
Sarah's handwriting.
Three years of dust and secrets pressed between two pieces of paper.
I tore it open.
Inside was a single folded page.
My hands trembled as I unfolded it.
The first line nearly made me stop breathing.
Daniel, if you're reading this, then I'm already gone—or someone has convinced you that I am.
I looked at Claire.
“What does that mean?””
“Keep reading.””
I did.
I need you to know one thing first.
I never left Emma.
My eyes blurred.
I continued.
The night before the accident, Vanessa came to see me.
I stopped.
“Vanessa?””
Claire nodded.
“Keep reading.””
The letter continued.
She told me that if I didn't give her what she wanted, Emma would never be safe.
My throat tightened.
I thought she was bluffing.
I was wrong.
Then I saw a sentence that made my hands go numb.
The money wasn't the reason Vanessa married you.
I looked at Claire.
“What money?””
She didn't answer.
I read the next paragraph.
Daniel, check the life insurance policy.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Then check who changed the beneficiary three weeks before my death.
I looked up.
“That's impossible.””
Claire whispered:
“That's what Sarah thought too.””
I kept reading.
If Vanessa ever hurts Emma, go to the police. But don't tell them about the red box until you know who you can trust.
The final line was written much darker, as if Sarah had pressed the pen into the paper.
And Daniel…
If Claire comes to you, believe her.
I stared at the page.
Claire was silent.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then a woman's breathing.
I felt every hair on my arms rise.
“Who is this?””
The voice came softly.
Broken.
Familiar.
“Daniel…”
My heart stopped.
Claire covered her mouth.
Margaret began to cry.
Because we all knew that voice.
It was Sarah.
“Don't trust Claire,” the voice whispered.
Then the call disconnected.
I stared at my phone.
Claire's face had gone white.
“Daniel…”
I slowly turned toward her.
“Sarah just told me not to trust you.””
Claire shook her head.
“I know.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at Emma.
Then at the rain-covered road ahead.
“I can.””
Her voice broke.
“But first you need to know something.””
“What?””
Claire swallowed.
“The woman you buried three years ago…”
May you like
She paused.
“…wasn't Sarah.””
