Chapter 3: Three Knocks From Below
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Three knocks.
A pause.
Then another.
Marcus stared at the rectangular metal cover beneath the water.
He had heard it.
Vanessa had heard it.
And Lily was already hiding behind his leg.
“Daddy, that's her,” she whispered.
Marcus crouched and pulled his daughter close.
“Stay behind me.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Marcus, you need to calm down.””
He slowly turned his head.
“Why is someone knocking from inside my swimming pool?””
“It's the filtration system.””
“Filtration systems don't knock.””
“There's probably a loose pipe.””
Marcus looked at her wet shoes.
“Then why are you afraid?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
No answer came.
Marcus picked up his phone.
“I'm calling emergency services.””
Vanessa immediately reached for it.
“Don't!””
He jerked his hand away.
“Don't touch me.””
“Think about Lily! Do you want her to watch this?””
“She already watched you threaten her!””
“I was trying to protect her!””
“From what?””
Vanessa looked toward the pool.
For one brief moment, her eyes settled on the maintenance cover.
Then she whispered something Marcus barely heard.
“You shouldn't have opened it.””
Marcus froze.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa backed away.
“I said you shouldn't be doing this in front of Lily.””
“No. You said I shouldn't have opened it.””
The phone connected.
Marcus gave the operator his address and explained that he believed someone was trapped inside a concealed maintenance chamber beneath his swimming pool.
The operator instructed him not to enter the water again.
Within minutes, two police officers arrived, followed by an emergency response team.
Officer Daniel Brooks approached Marcus first.
“Sir, are you injured?””
“No. But there's someone underneath that cover.””
“Are you certain?””
“I saw a hand.””
Brooks glanced toward the pool.
“Did you recognize the person?””
Marcus hesitated.
“I recognized the ring.””
The officer raised an eyebrow.
“What ring?””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“The one on the hand belonged to my wife.””
Vanessa immediately interrupted.
“That's impossible. His wife is dead.””
Brooks turned toward her.
“Ma'am, nobody has asked you to identify anyone yet.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I'm simply explaining the situation.””
“Then let us handle it.””
An emergency technician examined the pool's maintenance access.
After securing the water circulation system, the team began working on the metal cover.
Marcus stood several feet away with Lily in his arms.
His daughter had buried her face against his chest.
“Daddy?””
“I'm here.””
“Will Mommy come out?””
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“Please don't let them take her away again.””
His arms tightened around her.
“What do you mean, again?””
Lily lifted her head.
Her little fingers trembled as she pointed toward Vanessa.
“She told Mommy she couldn't come out.””
Marcus felt the blood drain from his face.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“She's confused. She's been confused ever since the funeral.””
Officer Brooks raised his hand.
“Ma'am, stay where you are.””
“But she's making things up!””
“Then you'll have nothing to worry about.””
The technician finally managed to lift the metal cover.
A dark opening appeared beneath it.
One officer shone a flashlight inside.
“There's a chamber here.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“What do you see?””
“Some kind of access compartment. Hold on.””
The officer leaned closer.
Then he stiffened.
“Sir, I need you to step back.””
Marcus didn't move.
“Is there a person inside?””
The officer looked at his partner.
“We have something.””
The emergency team carefully lowered equipment into the opening.
A few seconds later, one technician called out.
“There's clothing caught on the ladder!””
Marcus recognized the fabric immediately.
It was the same cream-colored material he had seen underwater.
Elina had owned a dress made from that exact fabric.
But before anyone could confirm what was inside, another officer discovered something near the edge of the chamber.
A small plastic identification bracelet.
He lifted it carefully.
Marcus stared at the faded lettering.
His knees nearly gave way.
It was a hospital bracelet.
The name printed on it was Elina Hale.
But the date was impossible.
It was dated six days after the funeral.
Marcus reached for the bracelet.
“That's my wife's name.””
Officer Brooks held it just out of reach.
“Sir, please.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“Explain this.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I've never seen that.””
“Then why did Lily say you opened this door yesterday?””
“She lies when she's frightened!””
Lily suddenly lifted her face.
“I don't lie!””
Vanessa stepped toward her.
“Lily, stop!””
Officer Brooks moved between them.
“That's enough.””
Then the second technician called from the opening.
“Officer! There's something else down here.””
He held up a small waterproof pouch.
Inside was a photograph.
Marcus recognized the picture instantly.
It showed Elina holding Lily as a newborn in the hospital.
But someone had written a message across the back in black marker.
Marcus took one step closer.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
It belonged to his wife.
The message read:
*MARCUS, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, VANESSA IS NOT WHO SHE SAYS SHE IS.*
Marcus slowly raised his eyes.
Vanessa was no longer looking at the photograph.
She was staring at the driveway.
A black SUV had just pulled up outside the garden gate.
The driver's door opened.
An elderly man stepped out, carrying a leather briefcase.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
It was Dr. Richard Coleman.
The physician who had signed Elina's death certificate.
And the first words out of his mouth made Marcus's stomach turn.
May you like
“I'm sorry,” the doctor said, looking directly at Vanessa.
“I told you this day would eventually come.””
