Chapter 8: The Box Under The Floor
For the first time since everything began, Marcus looked afraid of losing something other than me.
He wasn’t afraid of my anger.
He wasn’t afraid of my questions.
He was afraid of what Claire had just said.
“Someone is going to prison?””
My voice was quiet.
Claire nodded.
“Yes.””
I looked at Marcus.
“What does that mean?””
He didn’t answer.
That was becoming his greatest talent.
Silence.
Avoidance.
Waiting until the storm passed.
But this time, I wasn’t leaving.
“Marcus.””
He looked at me.
“I don’t know everything.””
I almost laughed.
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
“Your dead wife left evidence in our house, someone investigated me, legal documents were hidden, and now someone may go to prison.””
I pointed at him.
“And you don’t know?””
He looked broken.
“I knew Elena was suspicious before she died.””
The words stopped me.
“What?””
He sat down.
“She told me something was wrong.””
“Wrong with the company?””
He nodded.
“She thought someone inside was moving money.””
Claire looked away.
I noticed.
“You knew too.””
Claire whispered:
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
Neither answered.
I looked at both of them.
“Why did everyone decide I wasn’t allowed to know?””
Claire’s eyes filled.
“Because Elena asked us not to.””
That surprised me.
“What?””
“She was afraid.””
“Of me?””
“No.””
Claire shook her head.
“Of what would happen if the wrong person knew.””
I looked at Marcus.
“What did she find?””
Marcus walked toward the old storage room.
The room where I found Elena’s things.
“The evidence is here.””
I followed him.
The locked door opened.
Again.
The room that had once felt like a grave now felt like a crime scene.
Marcus moved past Elena’s boxes.
He stopped near the corner.
“There.””
I looked down.
The floor.
“What?””
He knelt and removed a wooden panel.
Underneath was a small metal container.
My breath caught.
“How long have you known this was here?””
He looked ashamed.
“Since yesterday.””
“Yesterday?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you open it?””
“Because I was afraid.””
Of course.
Everyone was afraid.
Everyone except me.
Because nobody thought I deserved the truth.
Marcus lifted the container.
Inside was a small envelope.
And a flash drive.
Claire gasped.
“That’s it.””
I looked at her.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
Marcus opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
His hands shook.
He read silently.
Then his face changed.
“What does it say?””
He didn’t answer.
I took the paper.
The handwriting was elegant.
Feminine.
Elena’s.
The note was short.
*Marcus, if you are reading this, it means I was right. Trust carefully. The person closest to you is not who they claim to be.*
I looked up.
“Who?””
Marcus looked at Claire.
Claire looked horrified.
“No.””
I looked between them.
“Who did Elena suspect?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
But he wasn’t looking confused.
He was looking guilty.
“You know something.””
He looked away.
“Maya.””
“No.””
I held the note.
“No more protecting people.””
His eyes closed.
Then he said:
“Elena suspected my father.””
The room went silent.
“Your father?””
Marcus nodded.
“He was involved with the company before Elena took control.””
“And?””
“And they argued.””
“About money?””
“Yes.””
Claire stepped forward.
“But Elena never had proof.””
I looked at the flash drive.
“Maybe she does now.””
Marcus plugged it into his laptop.
The screen filled with files.
Financial records.
Emails.
Photos.
Then one folder appeared.
The name made everyone freeze.
*MAYA.*
I stared.
“No.””
Marcus looked at me.
“I swear I didn’t know that existed.””
I clicked the folder.
Inside were documents about me.
My job.
My family.
My background.
Every detail.
I felt sick.
Someone had studied me.
Before I even knew they existed.
Then one file opened automatically.
A video.
The screen showed Elena.
Alive.
Sitting in an office.
My entire body went still.
Marcus covered his mouth.
“Elena…”
Her voice came through the speakers.
“If you’re watching this, then I failed to stop them.””
Claire started crying.
Marcus couldn’t move.
Elena continued.
“I need you to understand something. The person destroying the company is not a stranger.””
The video shook slightly.
She looked frightened.
“They are someone we trust.””
I looked at Marcus.
Then Claire.
Then the screen.
Elena leaned closer to the camera.
“And Marcus, if you meet someone new after me…”
A pause.
My heart tightened.
“…do not push her away because of what they tell you.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
Elena continued.
“Do not let them convince you that love is a weakness.””
The room became silent.
Then Elena said the words that changed everything.
“Because the person who is trying to destroy you will use your grief against you.””
The video stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
A man’s voice spoke.
“Maya, you found the recording.””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
The man laughed softly.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
My grip tightened.
“Tell me.””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m the reason Marcus never told you the truth.””
I looked at Marcus.
His face had gone pale.
Because he recognized the voice.
“Who are you?””
May you like
The man answered:
“Ask your husband why he helped me hide Elena’s death.””
