Chapter 9 - Natalie’s Locked Box
Marcus had never opened Natalie’s cedar box.
She kept it inside a locked cabinet in their old bedroom.
After her death, Marcus could not bring himself to disturb it.
Three years passed.
Then the estate was renovated.
The box moved with him.
Now it sat on the floor of his study.
Detective Cole watched as Marcus inserted the small brass key.
The lock clicked.
Inside were photographs.
Letters.
A scarf.
Two theater tickets from Marcus and Natalie’s first date.
And a sealed envelope.
Marcus saw the handwriting immediately.
For Marcus.
His hands stopped.
Natalie had written it.
Cole stepped back.
“This is personal.”
Marcus opened the letter.
The first lines made him sit down.
Marcus,
If you are reading this, I probably never found the courage to tell you something I should have told you years ago.
Marcus read faster.
Natalie described a woman from graduate school.
A woman who became overly attached.
A woman who copied her clothes.
Joined the same clubs.
Appeared at the same restaurants.
Asked strange questions about Marcus after seeing him in photographs.
Natalie initially felt sorry for her.
Then the behavior became frightening.
The woman began sending anonymous emails.
One message said Marcus deserved someone stronger.
Another said Natalie was selfish for marrying him.
Natalie reported the harassment to university staff.
It stopped.
Or appeared to.
Then Natalie became sick.
During treatment, she received flowers with no card.
Several times.
One night, someone entered her hospital room while she slept.
Nothing was stolen.
But a photograph of Marcus had been removed from her bedside table.
Natalie never knew who did it.
She did not tell Marcus because he was already overwhelmed by her illness.
At the bottom of the letter, one name appeared.
Victoria Crane.
Marcus stopped breathing.
Cole read the line over his shoulder.
“This confirms the connection.”
Marcus pressed his fingers to his eyes.
Natalie had known.
She had been afraid.
And Marcus had unknowingly welcomed the same woman into his life years later.
He kept reading.
There was one final paragraph.
If Victoria ever comes near you again, do not underestimate her.
She doesn’t love people normally.
She becomes them.
Marcus lowered the letter.
The room felt colder.
Detective Cole examined the contents of the box.
Another envelope contained copies of university complaints.
One included Victoria’s former address.
Another listed an emergency contact.
Evelyn Crane.
Her mother.
Cole immediately searched the name.
Evelyn had died five years earlier.
Her property had been sold.
But Victoria’s father, Jonathan Crane, still owned a cabin outside Asheville.
Marcus looked up.
“Victoria told me her father was dead.”
Cole checked.
“He isn’t.”
“Where is he?”
“According to property records, the cabin is still active.”
Marcus stood.
“How far?”
“About three hours.”
Cole held up a hand.
“You’re not going there.”
“Rachel may be there.”
“Police will handle it.”
“My son is involved.”
“Exactly why you should stay here.”
Marcus stared at him.
Then Elena entered the study.
Her cheek was bruised.
A bandage covered her knee.
Marcus looked ashamed immediately.
Elena noticed Natalie’s letter.
“What happened?”
Marcus told her.
When he finished, Elena said something that changed the direction of the investigation.
“Victoria mentioned a cabin once.”
Cole turned.
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“What did she say?”
Elena remembered carefully.
“She told the baby, ‘Someday I’ll take you to the place where nobody can find us.’”
Marcus went still.
Elena continued.
“I thought she was joking.”
May you like
Cole grabbed his phone.
“Not anymore.”
