Chapter 3 - Seventeen Missed Calls
By morning, Natalie had seventeen missed calls from Daniel.
Twenty-six from Cynthia.
Eight from Madison.
She finally answered Madison.
“What?”
“You need to come home.”
Natalie laughed softly.
“Why?”
“Mom is furious.”
“That sounds like her problem.”
“You don't understand.”
“No,” Natalie replied. “I think I understand perfectly.”
Madison lowered her voice.
“Did Grandma leave you something?”
Natalie froze.
“How do you know about Grandma's things?”
“Dad told Mom.”
Natalie looked toward the cedar box.
“What did he tell her?”
“I don't know.”
Madison hesitated.
“Just come back.”
“No.”
“Then you'll regret it.”
Natalie ended the call.
Five minutes later, Cynthia called.
Natalie ignored it.
A voicemail appeared.
“You sneaky little bitch. What did you do?”
Natalie listened twice.
Then she smiled.
Cynthia had never sounded afraid before.
Not once.
Natalie opened the cedar box.
Inside was a thick envelope.
She carefully removed it.
The first page was covered with legal language.
At the bottom was a signature.
Her grandmother's.
And beneath it was a name Natalie recognized immediately.
Natalie Hayes.
Her hands trembled.
But before she could read further, she heard footsteps behind her.
Natalie spun around.
No one was there.
She searched the hallway.
Empty.
She returned to the study.
The envelope was gone.
Natalie stood perfectly still.
Someone had entered the house.
May you like
Someone had taken the document.
And whoever it was knew exactly what they were looking for.
