Chapter 8: The Truth Natalie Left Behind
We spent the next hour trying to trace the call.
But Elijah had planned for that.
The number was unregistered.
The location was impossible to confirm.
He had reached out only to deliver a message.
A warning.
Or a threat.
I sat in the station hallway, staring at the floor.
My entire life had been built around one belief.
That I knew my family.
That I knew who loved us.
That I knew who wanted to protect my daughter.
But now every memory felt different.
Officer Martinez sat beside me.
“Mr. Hale.””
I looked up.
“We found something else.””
I followed him into the interview room.
On the table was a small box.
“Where did this come from?””
“Your house.””
My chest tightened.
“My house?””
He nodded.
“Hidden inside a storage area in Claire’s bedroom.””
I opened the box.
Inside were old letters.
Natalie’s letters.
My hands shook as I picked up the first one.
Most were unfinished.
Some had only a few sentences.
But every one mentioned the same thing.
Elijah.
Claire.
And fear.
One letter caught my attention.
It was dated one month before Natalie died.
“Claire says she understands.””
I read the words silently.
“She says she knows what I want for Amara. She says she will help protect her.””
I flipped the page.
The rest was missing.
Only the final sentence remained.
“But I’m starting to think I trusted the wrong person.””
I closed my eyes.
Claire had been close to Natalie.
Close enough to know her fears.
Close enough to know her secrets.
Close enough to use them.
Officer Martinez looked at me.
“Did Claire ever explain how she met Natalie?””
I shook my head.
“She said they met through a charity event.””
Elena suddenly spoke from across the room.
“That’s not true.””
We looked at her.
“What?””
Elena’s face was pale.
“They met because of Elijah.””
My heart sank.
“How?””
Elena looked down.
“Natalie discovered Elijah had been contacting Claire.””
“Why?””
Elena’s voice became quieter.
“Because Claire was helping him get close to Amara.””
The room went completely silent.
I stood.
“No.””
Elena looked at me.
“I wish I was wrong.””
My mind rejected the idea.
Claire had been in my home.
Holding my daughter.
Reading her bedtime stories.
Cooking her meals.
All while secretly working with someone Natalie feared.
Officer Martinez received another call.
He answered.
“Yes?””
His expression changed.
Then he looked at me.
“Mr. Hale.””
I already knew it was bad.
“What happened?””
He lowered the phone.
“We found Elijah.””
Everyone went still.
“Where?””
“At a private property outside the city.””
My heart raced.
“Is he alone?””
Officer Martinez didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
“No.””
My voice dropped.
“Who is with him?””
He looked at the report.
Then back at me.
“Claire.””
The word hit harder than anything before.
Claire.
Not missing.
Not innocent.
Not trapped.
With him.
Officer Martinez continued.
“There’s one more thing.””
“What?””
He placed a printed image on the table.
It was a security camera still.
Two people standing outside a building.
Elijah.
And Claire.
But they weren’t arguing.
They weren’t afraid.
They were working together.
And between them was a folder.
A folder with one word written across the front.
“Amara.””
I stared at it.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
This time, it wasn’t Elijah.
It was Claire.
May you like
Only six words.
“Come alone if you want answers.””
