Chapter 2: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Fourteen months earlier, Marcus had believed he knew exactly what had happened to his wife.
Elina had disappeared on a rainy Thursday evening.
Her car had been found abandoned near a bridge outside town. Police discovered her handbag inside, along with her phone and a small amount of blood on the driver's seat.
Three days later, authorities recovered a body from the river.
The identification had been complicated, but a medical examination and personal records eventually led officials to conclude that it was Elina.
Marcus had identified her belongings.
He had attended the funeral.
He had stood beside a closed coffin while Lily held his hand and asked when Mommy would come home.
He remembered the question more clearly than anything else.
“Daddy, can Mommy hear me?””
Marcus had knelt beside her.
“I think she can, sweetheart.””
“Then tell her I miss her.””
He had promised.
And for fourteen months, he had tried to keep that promise by telling Lily stories about her mother every night.
Vanessa had entered their lives three months after the funeral.
She had been Elina's former business associate, someone who had helped Marcus manage the family's property company during the difficult weeks following the accident.
At first, she had seemed like a blessing.
She cooked for Lily, helped with school, and stayed late whenever Marcus had meetings.
But Lily never liked her.
Not once.
One evening, Marcus found his daughter sitting on the kitchen floor, clutching a photograph of Elina.
Vanessa was standing at the counter, preparing dinner.
“Lily, honey, why aren't you eating?”” Marcus asked.
“She said Mommy isn't coming back.””
Vanessa turned.
“Marcus, I was only trying to help her understand.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“Mommy isn't coming back, sweetheart. But we can always talk about her.””
Lily lowered her head.
“She doesn't want me to talk about Mommy.””
Vanessa placed a plate on the counter a little too hard.
“I think you're encouraging her to live in the past.””
Marcus frowned.
“She lost her mother.””
“And she needs stability,” Vanessa replied.
“Not constant reminders.””
That night, Marcus apologized to Lily.
He didn't confront Vanessa.
He told himself she was simply trying to help.
Now, underwater, staring at the ring on that mysterious hand, Marcus remembered every uncomfortable conversation he had dismissed.
He remembered the way Vanessa always insisted on putting Lily to bed.
He remembered how she had thrown away several of Elina's old dresses.
And he remembered one particular argument.
It had happened two weeks before the proposal.
Marcus had been reviewing the house renovation plans when Vanessa entered his study.
“Have you considered replacing the pool?”” she asked.
Marcus looked up.
“Replacing it?””
“It's old. The maintenance system is complicated.””
“It's been inspected recently.””
Vanessa leaned against his desk.
“Still, I don't like Lily playing around it.””
“She's never allowed near it without supervision.””
“Maybe we should have the whole thing filled in.””
Marcus laughed.
“That's a little extreme.””
Vanessa didn't laugh.
“Some things are better buried, Marcus.””
He had looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
She had smiled and changed the subject.
Now, he wished he had demanded an answer.
Back at the pool, Vanessa knelt beside Lily.
“Sweetheart, come inside.””
Lily stepped backward.
“No.””
“Lily, listen to me.””
“Mommy is there!””
Vanessa tightened her fingers around the little girl's wrist.
“Stop saying that.””
It wasn't a gentle warning.
It was an order.
Lily winced.
“You're hurting me.””
Vanessa released her immediately and glanced toward the pool, making sure Marcus hadn't surfaced.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
“But you mustn't upset him.””
“Why?””
“Because your father has enough problems.””
Lily stared at her.
“You're not my mommy.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“I know exactly what I am.””
Before Lily could answer, a sound came from the pool.
A violent splash.
Vanessa sprang to her feet.
Marcus surfaced, gasping for air.
He grabbed the pool's edge and hauled himself up, water pouring from his suit trousers.
His face was white.
“Call the police,” he said.
Vanessa blinked.
“What?””
“Call the police!””
“Marcus, what's happening?””
He looked at her.
“Don't pretend you don't know.””
For the first time that afternoon, Vanessa appeared genuinely frightened.
Marcus reached for his phone on the table.
But before he could unlock it, Lily tugged at his wet sleeve.
“Daddy?””
He turned.
“Yes, baby?””
Lily pointed toward Vanessa.
“That's not the first time she went down there.””
Marcus slowly looked at his daughter.
“What do you mean?””
Lily swallowed.
“Yesterday, she opened the little door.””
Vanessa's face lost all its color.
Marcus stared at her.
“What little door?””
Lily began crying again.
“The one under the roses. The one where Mommy talks.””
And then, from beneath the pool, came three slow metallic knocks.
May you like
Marcus turned toward the water.
Someone was knocking from inside.
