Chapter 10 - The Voice Recording
Nathan recovered Elena’s old phone.
The screen was destroyed.
The internal storage was not.
A forensic specialist arrived that afternoon.
By evening, they retrieved twenty-three audio files.
Most were ordinary.
Noah laughing.
Logan leaving a message from New York.
Elena singing.
Then they found one labeled only with a date.
Two weeks before the disappearance.
Logan pressed play.
Elena’s voice filled the library.
“If something happens to me, this is not an accident.”
Marina covered her mouth.
She was listening to herself.
Her forgotten self.
“Vanessa has been coming to the house when Logan isn’t here.”
“She keeps telling me I’m imagining things.”
“She moved items in Noah’s room and then insisted I moved them.”
“She told staff I’m unstable.”
“She contacted a doctor without my permission.”
Logan looked sick.
The recording continued.
“I found messages between Vanessa and Harrison.”
“They are discussing my medical records.”
“I don’t know what they are planning.”
“But I’m scared.”
Marina began crying.
Logan stared at the phone.
Elena’s voice continued.
“I haven’t told Logan everything because I’m ashamed.”
“I kept thinking I could handle this.”
“I kept thinking Vanessa would stop.”
“If you’re hearing this, I was wrong.”
The recording ended.
No one spoke.
Then Marcus entered.
“The county police just called.”
“Harrison Vale disappeared from custody.”
Nathan frowned.
“How?”
“He wasn’t arrested.”
“He was being interviewed voluntarily.”
“He walked out before detectives obtained a warrant.”
Logan stood immediately.
“Where’s Vanessa?”
Marcus froze.
They looked at one another.
They ran upstairs.
Vanessa’s room was empty.
The balcony doors were open.
A bedsheet had been tied to the railing.
Marcus cursed.
Security swept the estate.
No Vanessa.
Logan pulled up the property cameras.
At 7:42 p.m., a catering van had exited the service gate.
The driver wore a cap.
The passenger kept her face lowered.
Vanessa.
Logan slammed his fist against the desk.
Marina appeared behind him.
“Noah.”
Logan turned.
“What?”
“Where is Noah?”
His blood went cold.
They ran to the nursery.
The nanny was unconscious on the rug but breathing.
The crib was empty.
Logan screamed his son’s name.
Then Marina saw something on the floor.
Noah’s stuffed rabbit.
Beneath it was a folded note.
Logan opened it.
May you like
One sentence.
BRING ELENA TO BLACKWATER BRIDGE IF YOU WANT YOUR SON BACK.
