Chapter 2: The Wall
I stared at the photograph until the faces blurred.
Thomas had been twenty-nine that summer.
I remembered the wedding.
The cheap champagne.
The rain that ruined half the outdoor decorations.
Thomas stealing frosting from our cake before the photographer arrived.
I remembered him looking at me across the church and mouthing, Don't cry.
I remembered believing I knew everything about him.
Apparently, I knew nothing.
"Daniel," I said.
"I'm here.""
"Who is the man in this photograph?""
"I can't see it clearly.""
I sent him the picture.
The typing indicator appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally, Daniel said, "Where did you get this?""
"Someone texted it to me.""
"Elena, don't respond to the number.""
"Why?""
"Because we don't know who it is.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The stranger wore a dark suit and stood beside Diane.
Thomas was on the other side.
All three were looking at the camera.
But only Thomas looked terrified.
"Daniel," I said, "what happened two days before my wedding?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not.""
"You just went silent.""
"Because I'm trying to remember.""
"Remember what?""
Daniel took a breath.
"Thomas once asked me whether a man named Victor Hale had ever contacted me.""
My heart stopped.
"Who is Victor Hale?""
"I don't know.""
"Then why did Thomas ask?""
"He wouldn't tell me.""
I looked toward the hallway.
The house suddenly felt different.
Every wall seemed to have a secret behind it.
Every photograph looked staged.
Every memory had acquired a shadow.
I wheeled myself toward the office.
"Where are you going?"" Daniel asked.
"To find out what my husband left me.""
"Elena, wait.""
"No.""
"Please.""
I stopped.
Daniel's voice had changed.
"Thomas specifically instructed me not to let you investigate this alone.""
"Why?""
"Because if Diane knows you found the device, she may act.""
I stared at the dark screen.
"She already did.""
"What do you mean?""
I looked down at Leo's bruised arm.
My mother's fingerprints were faintly visible beneath his sleeve.
"She hurt my son.""
Daniel was silent.
Then he said, "Then we move tonight.""
I opened the office door.
Thomas's desk sat exactly as he'd left it.
A mug still rested beside the computer.
A stack of unopened mail leaned against the lamp.
His old reading glasses were folded neatly on top of a notebook.
I touched them.
For one second, I could almost hear his voice.
You always lose yours.
My throat tightened.
Then Leo cried from the living room.
I turned.
"Mama!""
"I'm here.""
I wheeled back toward him.
And that's when I noticed something strange.
The wooden train set.
One piece was missing.
A small red locomotive.
I frowned.
"Maya, where's your train?""
She pointed toward the hallway.
"Grandma took it.""
My blood ran cold.
Diane had been in the hallway before she left.
She had been near the office.
I pushed myself forward.
The pain in my leg screamed, but I ignored it.
Behind the hallway bookshelf was the wall where Thomas's safe had been installed.
I moved the chair closer.
There was a narrow seam in the paneling.
I pressed it.
Nothing.
I pressed again.
A click.
The panel opened.
Inside was a shallow compartment.
Empty.
Except for one envelope.
My name was written across it.
Not typed.
Written in Thomas's handwriting.
*ELENA — IF DIANE HAS FOUND THIS, DO NOT TRUST HER.*
I opened it with shaking fingers.
Inside was one page.
Elena,
If you're reading this, then the truth came out sooner than I expected.
There is a room in this house your mother doesn't know about.
I stopped breathing.
I read the next line.
Do not tell Daniel.
I stared at the words.
Daniel was still on the phone.
"Elena?"" he asked.
I looked at the speaker.
For the first time since Thomas died, I didn't trust the man who had handled my husband's entire estate.
I muted the phone.
Then I read the final sentence.
The entrance is behind the wall where we took our wedding photograph.
I looked up.
Our wedding photograph.
Above the fireplace.
The same photograph Diane had replaced with one of her paintings three months ago.
I rolled into the living room.
Maya was sitting on the floor.
Leo was beside her.
I reached for the framed painting.
It was heavier than it looked.
I lifted it down.
Behind it was the wall.
And a small brass keyhole.
My hands began to shake.
There was no key.
Then I remembered the red train.
I looked toward the hallway.
May you like
The little locomotive was sitting on the floor.
And something metallic was sticking out of its chimney.
