Chapter 2 - The Sealed Potting Room
Nathan took the key from Emma carefully.
Rebecca blocked the greenhouse aisle.
“You are not opening that door.”
Nathan stopped.
“Move.”
“There could be mold. Chemicals. Anything.”
Grace stared at her.
“You have never cared about that room.”
Rebecca ignored her.
Nathan carried Emma toward Grace.
“Take her into the kitchen. Get her warm.”
Emma tightened her arms around him.
“No.”
He looked down.
“I’ll be right here.”
“She’ll hide something.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened.
Nathan looked at his daughter.
“What did you say?”
Emma hesitated.
“Rebecca goes in your office when you’re gone.”
“Emma.”
Rebecca’s voice was sharp enough to make the girl flinch.
Nathan saw it.
His anger returned, colder now.
“Grace, take Emma inside. Lock the kitchen door behind you.”
Rebecca laughed once.
“You’re treating me like a criminal.”
“I’m treating you like someone who just lied about frightening my child.”
Grace led Emma away.
Nathan inserted the brass key.
The lock resisted at first.
Then it turned.
The door opened with a groan.
The room smelled of damp wood and old soil.
Shelves lined the walls. Clay pots were stacked beneath a narrow window. Rusted tools hung beside a wooden workbench that had belonged to Nathan’s mother, Eleanor.
Nathan remembered her working there when he was a child.
The room had been sealed after Eleanor’s death six years earlier.
Or so he had believed.
A disturbed layer of dust crossed the floor.
Rebecca remained at the threshold.
Nathan noticed.
“Someone’s been in here.”
“No one.”
“Those footprints say otherwise.”
He moved toward the workbench.
One drawer was locked.
The brass key did not fit.
Grace appeared behind him after leaving Emma with the housekeeper.
“Look underneath.”
Nathan crouched.
His fingers found a small metal catch.
The false bottom dropped open.
Rebecca sucked in a breath.
Inside rested a battered black document case.
Nathan lifted it onto the bench.
Rebecca said, “Do not touch that.”
“Why?”
“It could belong to Olivia.”
“Then why do you care?”
He opened the case.
Inside were photocopied bank statements, a flash drive, an old prepaid phone, and a sealed envelope.
His name was written across the envelope.
Nathan.
He recognized Olivia’s handwriting.
Rebecca backed away.
Nathan opened it.
The letter contained only four lines.
Nathan, if you are reading this, I failed to make you listen while I still had the chance.
Do not give this evidence to Miles.
He lied about why I left.
And Rebecca did not come into our lives by accident.
Nathan read it twice.
His closest friend and company general counsel was Miles Dane.
Miles had handled Nathan’s divorce from Olivia.
Miles had also introduced Nathan to Rebecca.
Grace whispered, “Oh, God.”
Rebecca recovered enough to speak.
“Olivia was unstable when she wrote that.”
Nathan turned.
“You knew this existed.”
“No.”
“You tried to stop me from opening the room.”
“Because anything Olivia left here was probably intended to manipulate you.”
Nathan picked up the flash drive.
“You’ll have the chance to explain.”
A siren sounded beyond the gates.
Grace looked toward the courtyard.
Rebecca’s expression became suddenly calmer.
Nathan understood.
“You called the police.”
“You struck me.”
Nathan closed his eyes for half a second.
“Yes.”
“You don’t get to pretend that didn’t happen because you’re angry.”
“I’m not pretending.”
Two Bedford police officers entered through the courtyard minutes later with Detective Lena Ortiz.
Rebecca immediately became tearful.
“My husband attacked me.”
Nathan said nothing.
Ortiz looked at him.
“Mr. Cole?”
“I slapped her.”
Grace turned sharply toward him.
Nathan continued.
“It was wrong. The security camera recorded it.”
Rebecca had not expected that.
Ortiz glanced toward the greenhouse.
“It recorded everything?”
“Yes.”
Nathan showed her the afternoon video.
By the time it ended, Rebecca had stopped crying.
Ortiz’s expression changed.
“Mrs. Cole, did you lock this child inside?”
“She was never in danger.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Rebecca folded her arms.
“My attorney will answer the rest.”
Another officer photographed the bamboo cane and the greenhouse latch.
Ortiz requested a copy of the recording.
Nathan gave it to her.
Then she pointed at the black case.
“What is that?”
Nathan hesitated.
“A separate matter.”
Rebecca said quickly, “Evidence stolen by his ex-wife.”
Nathan looked at her.
Ortiz noticed.
“What kind of evidence?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Then don’t alter it unnecessarily. If you think it involves a crime, contact counsel before you start passing it around.”
Nathan nodded.
Rebecca was taken into another room to make a statement.
Ortiz spoke privately with Nathan.
“Child Protective Services will be notified.”
“I understand.”
“And your admission that you struck your wife is also going in my report.”
“I understand that too.”
“You may be facing your own complaint.”
Nathan looked toward the house where Emma waited.
“I lost control.”
Ortiz studied him.
“Then understand something now, Mr. Cole. Losing control once can become the only fact anyone wants to talk about.”
Her words proved prophetic almost immediately.
Nathan’s phone rang.
Miles Dane.
Nathan stared at the name.
He almost answered.
Then remembered Olivia’s letter.
Do not give this evidence to Miles.
Instead, he declined the call.
Seconds later a message arrived.
Miles: Rebecca called me. Do not speak to police again until I get there. And do not open anything Olivia left behind.
Nathan’s blood went cold.
Miles had no way of knowing Olivia had left anything behind.
May you like
Unless Rebecca had told him.
Or unless he already knew.
