Chapter 8 - The Missing Woman
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Laura told them Margaret was missing.
She did not mention everything.
Not yet.
The notebook.
The documents.
The recordings.
She wasn't sure whom she could trust.
Daniel agreed.
That frightened her.
He had always been the person she trusted most.
Now every agreement felt like another question.
The police searched Margaret's house.
Nothing.
No broken windows.
No signs of a struggle.
Her phone was found on the kitchen counter.
The last call was to Laura.
The officer asked Laura if she knew anyone who might want to hurt Margaret.
Laura thought of Elliot.
She said his name.
The officer wrote it down.
“Why do you suspect him?”
Laura hesitated.
“My father had a business partner named Elliot Crane.”
The officer looked up.
“That name hasn't appeared in any recent records.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means either he doesn't exist anymore, or someone has worked very hard to make him disappear.”
Laura felt cold.
Back home, Daniel sat in the living room.
Emily was asleep upstairs.
Laura placed the notebook on the table.
“We need to talk.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“Did you ever meet Elliot?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Before or after my father died?”
“Before.”
Laura stared at him.
“Why did you never tell me?”
“Because your father asked me not to.”
“You keep using him as an excuse.”
Daniel looked down.
“You're right.”
Laura sat across from him.
“What happened the night my father died?”
Daniel took a long breath.
“I was there.”
Laura's face went pale.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“You told me you were in another state.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of Elliot?”
Daniel didn't answer.
“Daniel.”
He finally looked at her.
“Of your father.”
Laura stared.
“What did he do?”
Daniel reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I found this after he died.”
Laura opened it.
Only one sentence had been written.
If Laura ever asks about the night I died, tell her the truth.
Daniel looked at her.
“I wasn't the one who betrayed your father.”
“Then who was?”
Daniel swallowed.
“I don't know.”
Laura looked at the clock.
It was 11:46 p.m.
Then her phone vibrated.
A video file appeared.
No sender.
Laura opened it.
Margaret appeared on the screen.
She was sitting in a dark room.
Her face was frightened.
Then she looked directly into the camera.
“Laura, if you're watching this, do not trust Daniel.”
The video ended.
May you like
Laura slowly turned toward her husband.
Daniel was already standing.
