Chapter 5 - The Call From a Dead Number
Jason returned to the nursery with no color in his face.
Valerie met him in the hallway.
“What did he say?” she whispered.
Jason lowered his voice, but Emma stood close enough to hear.
“Nothing. The line was silent.”
“Did the number appear?”
“It was Dad’s old office line.”
“That line was disconnected.”
“I know.”
Valerie looked downstairs.
“Did you lock the basement?”
“Yes.”
“Check it.”
Jason descended quickly.
Valerie stepped into the nursery and closed the door behind her.
Emma remained beside Noah’s crib.
“Caleb is alive,” she said.
Valerie’s expression became unreadable.
“Caleb is unstable.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“He disappeared voluntarily.”
“Jason said the police wanted him.”
“Jason says many things when he’s frightened.”
The statement surprised Emma.
“You know he lies.”
“I know both my sons.”
“Then tell me what happened to Caleb.”
Valerie crossed to the window. Rain streaked the glass, blurring the mountain road.
“Caleb became obsessed after Richard’s death. He believed the accident was staged. He believed documents were hidden in this house. He broke into the basement and threatened to expose private family matters.”
“What private matters?”
“The kind that destroy lives without proving anything.”
“Did he steal from the company?”
Valerie did not answer.
Jason returned five minutes later.
“The basement is locked.”
“Did you check the lower garage?” Valerie asked.
“The alarm is active.”
Emma watched them.
Neither appeared concerned that a supposedly dangerous man had called.
They appeared afraid that he had returned.
Valerie picked up her bag.
“I’m going back to town.”
Jason stared at her.
“You said you were staying.”
“I have to speak to Leonard.”
“Tonight?”
“Before anyone files anything.”
“Who’s Leonard?” Emma asked.
Valerie’s hand tightened around the bag.
“Our attorney.”
“Why do you need an attorney because Caleb called?”
Valerie walked out without answering.
Jason followed her downstairs.
Emma waited until the front door closed and the SUV drove away.
Then she moved to the nursery door.
Jason stood at the bottom of the staircase, looking up at her.
“You should be resting.”
“You should tell me the truth.”
“About what?”
“Everything.”
His face softened.
For one dangerous moment, he looked like the man Emma had married.
He looked exhausted and frightened.
“I didn’t plan for any of this,” he said.
“What did you plan?”
Jason glanced toward the kitchen.
“Caroline designed the trust to punish my family.”
“She left the money to me.”
“She left money that came from Mercer land and Mercer investments.”
“She had the legal right.”
“She had no children. That money should have returned to us.”
“So you married me to get it?”
“No.”
The answer sounded sincere.
That made what followed worse.
“I loved you,” Jason said. “But after Noah was born, Mom showed me what the trust could do for us. One signature could secure our future.”
“A forged signature.”
“You would have agreed if you weren’t so afraid of everything.”
“I’m afraid because you’re trapping me.”
“You’re sick, Emma.”
“Because of the medicine?”
Jason looked away.
Emma’s stomach tightened.
“What is inside it?”
“I don’t know.”
“You brought it to me.”
“Mom arranged it.”
“Then call an ambulance.”
“That would create a record.”
“A record of what?”
Jason stepped backward.
Before he could answer, Noah’s monitor activated on the table.
A man’s voice came through the speaker.
“Emma, listen carefully.”
Jason froze.
The voice continued.
“Do not take another tablet. Do not let Valerie remove Noah from the house.”
Jason grabbed the monitor.
“Caleb!”
Static filled the speaker.
Then the voice said one final sentence.
“Ask Jason what happened in the lower garage six years ago.”
The connection ended.
Jason threw the monitor onto the floor.
Emma stared at him.
“What happened in the lower garage?”
May you like
Jason looked toward the locked basement door.
“My brother died down there.”
