Chapter 2: The Secret Room
The first police cruiser arrived at 8:51 p.m.
Two officers entered through the front gate, followed by an ambulance and a fire rescue vehicle.
I was standing beside the pool with a towel around my shoulders when Detective Rachel Morgan approached.
She was in her early forties, with short brown hair and a calm expression that suggested she had seen more terrible things than she cared to remember.
“Mr. Hale?””
“Yes.””
“I'm Detective Morgan. Tell me exactly what happened.””
I pointed toward the water.
“My daughter says she saw her mother beneath the pool. I opened a metal hatch and heard someone calling my name.””
The detective looked toward Vanessa.
“And your fiancée?””
“Apparently knows something about it.””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Detective, this is a misunderstanding. Marcus has been under enormous emotional stress since his wife's disappearance.””
Morgan studied her.
“Did you disconnect the security cameras?””
“No.””
Daniel approached with his tablet.
“Detective, the system records access codes. Her credentials were used at 8:17.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“I have authorization to access the system.””
“Then you can explain why the cameras went offline,” Morgan replied.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I'd rather speak to my attorney.””
The detective nodded.
“That's your right.””
Meanwhile, the firefighters were preparing diving equipment.
I watched them examine the hatch.
One firefighter surfaced after inspecting its edges.
“Sir, this isn't part of the original pool structure.””
“What do you mean?””
“There's a second chamber beneath it. Looks like an old underground service room. The hatch has been reinforced from the outside.””
I stepped closer.
“Can you open it?””
“We're going to try.””
Ava was sitting on a lounge chair beside Daniel. She clutched the small stuffed rabbit Elena had given her on her fifth birthday.
I approached her.
“Sweetheart, when did you first see Mommy?””
She looked down at the rabbit.
“Last Tuesday.””
My breath caught.
“Last Tuesday?””
She nodded.
“I woke up because I heard somebody singing.””
“What song?””
“Mommy's bedtime song.””
I sat beside her.
“Where did you hear it?””
She pointed toward the garden.
“Near the old fountain.””
I remembered the fountain. It was a stone structure Elena had insisted we keep when we renovated the estate.
“What happened next?””
Ava twisted the rabbit's ear.
“I went outside. I saw Vanessa carrying a little silver box. Then I heard Mommy say my name.””
My throat tightened.
“Did Vanessa see you?””
Ava nodded.
“She told me I was dreaming.””
I looked across the terrace.
Vanessa was speaking quietly with her lawyer over the phone.
“Did you tell anyone?””
“I told her.””
“Who?””
“Vanessa.””
Ava's eyes filled again.
“She got angry. She said Mommy wasn't coming back and I needed to stop being bad.””
I closed my eyes.
For months, I had believed Vanessa was helping my daughter heal.
She had offered to take Ava to therapy. She had bought her dresses, toys, and books. She had even suggested changing the photographs in the hallway because, according to her, seeing Elena's face every day made it harder for Ava to move forward.
I had agreed.
God help me, I had agreed.
A loud bang came from the pool.
I turned.
The firefighters had managed to remove the chain.
“Mr. Hale!”” one shouted.
“We need you to stay back!””
The hatch slowly lifted.
A foul smell escaped from the opening.
One firefighter climbed down a narrow metal ladder while another remained above.
A minute passed.
Then two.
Then I heard shouting.
“We have someone!””
My knees nearly gave way.
“Is it a woman?””
“Female. Adult. Weak pulse!””
I rushed forward.
The detective grabbed my shoulder.
“Let them work!””
The firefighters emerged carrying a woman on a rescue board.
Her body was frighteningly thin.
Her long dark hair was tangled around her face. Her wrists were bruised, and a faded hospital gown hung loosely from her shoulders.
But I recognized her.
Even after fourteen months.
Even with her cheeks hollow and her skin pale.
It was Elena.
“Lena…”
The name came out as a whisper.
Her eyelids fluttered.
I dropped to my knees beside the rescue board.
“Lena, sweetheart. It's me.””
Her lips moved.
The paramedic leaned closer.
“Don't try to speak. You're safe now.””
But Elena ignored him.
Her eyes found mine.
And then she whispered four words.
“Don't trust… the doctor.””
I looked up.
“What doctor?””
Her fingers weakly closed around mine.
“Your brother…”
Then her eyes rolled backward.
The paramedics immediately began working on her.
I stood frozen as they loaded her into the ambulance.
“I'm coming with her,” I said.
The detective shook her head.
“Mr. Hale, I need you to stay here for a few minutes. We have to secure the scene.””
“That's my wife!””
“I understand. But this is now a criminal investigation.””
I turned toward Vanessa.
She was no longer on the terrace.
“Where is she?””
Daniel looked toward the garden.
“She was here a moment ago.””
The detective immediately radioed the officers.
“Secure the exits. Nobody leaves.””
A police officer returned less than a minute later.
“Detective, she's gone.””
My stomach dropped.
“How?””
The officer pointed toward the side gate.
“Someone opened the service entrance from inside.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Find her.””
He nodded and ran.
Detective Morgan approached the open hatch.
“Mr. Hale, I need to ask you something. Did your wife have any medical conditions?””
“No.””
“Was she taking medication before she disappeared?””
I shook my head.
“Why?””
The detective looked toward the ambulance.
“Because the woman we just recovered appears to have been receiving regular injections. There are puncture marks on both arms.””
I stared at her.
“Are you saying someone was keeping her alive?””
“I'm saying we need to know what was happening in that room.””
She turned toward the firefighters.
“Search everything.””
One firefighter climbed back down.
A few minutes later, he returned carrying a small plastic container.
Inside were several empty medicine vials, a digital thermometer, and a folded piece of paper.
The detective opened it.
Her expression changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
She handed it to me.
The paper contained a handwritten list of dates.
Each date was followed by a number and a short note.
The final entry was from that afternoon.
November 3.
Below it were five words.
*Marcus proposes tonight. Keep her quiet.*
I felt the blood drain from my face.
The detective took the paper back.
“Mr. Hale, was anyone aware you planned to propose tonight?””
I stared at the empty ring box still visible across the terrace.
“Vanessa.””
“Anyone else?””
I hesitated.
Then I remembered the phone call I had received three days earlier.
My older brother, Jonathan, had called to congratulate me.
He had said he was glad I was finally moving on.
He had even offered to help organize the engagement dinner.
“Jonathan knew,” I whispered.
Detective Morgan looked at me.
“Who is Jonathan?””
“My brother.””
She studied my face.
“Is he a doctor?””
I nodded.
“Jonathan Hale. He's a cardiothoracic surgeon.””
The detective slowly closed her notebook.
“Then I think you need to tell me everything about your wife's disappearance.””
Before I could answer, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
May you like
One message.
*If Elena told you about the doctor, don't go to the hospital. Your brother is already there.*
