Chapter 6 - A Father's Doubt)
Daniel did not confront Sybil after the fake call.
Not immediately.
He wanted facts.
For the first time since Eleanor disappeared, he stopped behaving like a worried son and started behaving like the corporate attorney he had once been before taking over the family foundation.
He checked Eleanor's credit cards.
No purchases in Florida.
He checked her airline accounts.
No flights.
He called the airline directly.
Nothing under Eleanor Hale's name.
He searched Margaret.
The only Margaret he knew connected to Eleanor was Margaret Levin, a former neighbor who had moved to Arizona four years earlier.
Daniel called her.
"Eleanor is where?"
"Sybil said Mom flew to see you."
"I have not spoken to Eleanor in months."
Daniel thanked her and ended the call.
His hands were shaking.
He checked Eleanor's phone account.
The device had connected to a cell tower less than two miles from the house every day since she supposedly left.
Including that morning.
Daniel drove home.
Sybil was in the garden.
Winnie sat inside drawing at the breakfast table.
Daniel walked past both of them and went upstairs.
Eleanor's phone was not in her bedroom.
He searched the guest bathroom.
Closet.
Laundry room.
Nothing.
Then he heard vibration.
Once.
Twice.
A faint buzzing sound behind the wall.
He followed it to Sybil's dressing room.
The sound stopped.
Daniel called Eleanor's number again.
Buzz.
He opened drawers.
Buzz.
He pulled coats aside.
Buzz.
At the back of the wardrobe stood a locked wooden box.
Daniel stared at it.
He called once more.
The phone vibrated inside.
"Daniel?"
Sybil stood behind him.
He turned.
"Open it."
"What are you doing in my wardrobe?"
"Open the box."
"No."
"Mom's phone is inside."
Sybil crossed her arms.
"You are becoming paranoid."
Daniel called.
The box buzzed.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally Sybil opened a drawer and removed a small key.
She unlocked the wooden box.
Eleanor's phone lay inside.
Daniel picked it up.
"Explain."
"She left it."
"You told me she texted from Florida."
"She uses her tablet."
"Her number?"
"She has messaging synced."
Daniel looked at the phone.
"Then why did a woman pretending to be my mother call from this number?"
Sybil's expression changed.
"Daniel."
"Who was she?"
"I was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"Your mother is not well."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it is true."
"Where is she?"
"I do not know."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Where is my mother?"
Sybil's eyes filled with tears.
It would have worked on him a week earlier.
Now he watched the tears instead of reacting to them.
"I was afraid you would blame me," she said.
"For what?"
"Eleanor left after we argued."
"What argument?"
"Money."
Daniel's attention sharpened.
"What money?"
"She accused me of stealing from the foundation."
"Did you?"
"No."
Daniel waited.
Sybil looked away.
That was enough.
"How much?"
"I moved funds."
"How much?"
"Daniel."
"How much?"
"About four hundred thousand."
He stared at her.
"I was going to put it back."
"Where did it go?"
"A business investment."
"Whose business?"
Silence.
Daniel took out his phone.
Sybil grabbed his wrist.
"Do not call anyone."
"Let go."
"If the board finds out, everything collapses."
"Good."
"You do not understand what is connected to this."
"Then explain it."
"I cannot."
"You can."
"I cannot."
A floorboard creaked above them.
Daniel looked toward the ceiling.
Sybil's grip tightened.
"Do not."
Daniel slowly turned back to her.
"Do not what?"
She realized her mistake.
Too late.
Daniel pulled his wrist free.
He went downstairs.
Winnie was still at the table.
"Show me where you hear Grandma."
Winnie jumped up.
They entered the dining room.
She pointed to the attic hatch.
Daniel dragged a chair beneath it.
Sybil rushed in.
"Daniel, stop."
He climbed onto the chair.
He pushed against the hatch.
It did not move.
"Why is it blocked?"
"It sticks."
Daniel pushed harder.
Something scraped above it.
Not a sticky hinge.
Weight.
"Get me the ladder."
Sybil stepped toward him.
"You are frightening Winnie."
Winnie said, "No, she is."
Daniel looked at his daughter.
Her eyes were fixed on Sybil.
"Where is the ladder?"
"Garage."
Daniel climbed down.
Sybil blocked the doorway.
"Daniel."
"Move."
"We have guests coming tomorrow."
He stared at her.
"What?"
"The foundation dinner."
Daniel had forgotten.
Every year members of the Hale Foundation board gathered at the family home before the autumn fundraising gala.
Twelve people were expected.
"Cancel it."
"We cannot."
"My mother is missing."
"Eleanor told everyone she is in Florida."
"No. You told everyone."
The distinction hung between them.
Daniel walked past her.
The garage ladder was gone.
He searched storage.
Workshop.
Garden shed.
Nothing.
"She moved it," Winnie said.
Daniel turned.
"Who?"
"Sybil."
Sybil stood at the garage entrance.
"Because Winnie tried to climb it."
Daniel looked from her to the empty wall where the ladder usually hung.
"Where did you put it?"
"Off the property."
"Where?"
"Daniel, listen to yourself."
He walked toward her.
"If you do not tell me where that ladder is within five seconds, I am calling the police and telling them my mother's phone was hidden in your closet."
Sybil's face hardened.
Then she smiled.
"Storage room behind the pantry."
Daniel retrieved the ladder.
When he returned to the dining room, the attic was silent.
He placed it beneath the hatch.
He climbed.
Winnie stood below.
Daniel reached the top.
His fingers touched the wooden panel.
Then his phone rang.
The name on the screen stopped him.
Detective Aaron Brooks.
Daniel had not spoken to Brooks since Rebecca's accident.
He answered.
"Daniel Hale?"
"Yes."
"This is Detective Brooks with county investigations. I am sorry to call unexpectedly."
Daniel looked at Sybil.
She had gone pale.
Brooks continued.
"We are reviewing several old traffic cases because of evidence discovered in an unrelated investigation."
Daniel's hand tightened around the ladder.
"Which case?"
"Your wife's accident."
Rebecca.
Daniel looked at Winnie.
Then at Sybil.
"What did you find?"
Brooks hesitated.
"We found evidence that another vehicle may have been involved."
Daniel felt his stomach drop.
"What vehicle?"
"I would rather discuss that in person."
"When?"
"Tonight, if possible."
Daniel looked upward.
The attic hatch was inches from his hand.
Below him, Sybil whispered.
"Daniel, come down."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
Her eyes were not on him.
They were on the phone.
Daniel understood.
She knew who was calling.
"How do you know this is about Rebecca?"
Sybil said nothing.
Daniel climbed down slowly.
Brooks was still speaking.
"Mr. Hale?"
"I am here."
"Is everything all right?"
Daniel looked at his wife.
"No."
Then he heard it.
From directly above him.
One knock.
A pause.
One knock.
May you like
A pause.
Three knocks.
