Chapter 2 - The Locked Door
The room changed instantly.
Until that moment, Charles Mercer had looked irritated.
Now he looked terrified.
“Maya,” he said, each syllable sharp. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Adrian moved toward her.
She backed away.
I kept the phone against my ear.
The dispatcher asked, “Ma’am, are you still in danger?”
“Yes.”
“What did the woman say about a basement?”
Every Mercer at the table went silent.
I answered clearly.
“She said the police should check the basement.”
Eleanor grabbed my wrist.
I ripped my arm away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Her expression twisted.
“You have no idea what kind of damage you’re causing.”
“To whom?”
“Our family.”
I laughed once.
Blood ran down my neck.
“You watched your son crack a plate over my head, and you’re worried about your family?”
Blue lights flashed through the windows.
Two patrol cars swept into the circular driveway.
Adrian cursed under his breath.
Charles moved toward Maya.
“You need to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re confused.”
“I’ve been confused for seven years.”
That stopped him.
The front door opened.
A woman shouted, “Police!”
Relatives began talking all at once.
“It was an accident.”
“She slipped.”
“They were arguing.”
“He didn’t mean—”
“Everybody stay where you are!”
Two officers entered the dining room.
One was a tall Black woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun. The other was a younger man with one hand near his holster.
The woman saw my face.
Her expression hardened.
“Who hit you?”
I pointed at Adrian.
“He did.”
Adrian raised both hands.
“My wife is upset.”
The officer looked at the blood dripping down my dress.
“I can see that.”
“She was yelling at my mother.”
“And?”
“She provoked—”
The officer cut him off.
“Turn around.”
“What?”
“Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
Eleanor gasped.
“You cannot arrest him! He’s a respected attorney.”
The officer didn’t blink.
“Tonight he’s a suspect in an assault.”
Adrian’s face burned red as the handcuffs clicked shut.
Then the officer turned toward Maya.
“You mentioned a basement?”
Maya’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Charles stepped in.
“There is nothing in the basement except wine storage.”
The younger officer looked toward him.
“Then checking it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Charles’ jaw tightened.
“This is private property.”
“We can secure the scene and request a warrant.”
Maya suddenly spoke.
“You don’t need one.”
Everyone looked at her.
She reached into her purse.
Her fingers shook as she pulled out a brass key.
“I have one.”
Adrian went still.
Not angry.
Not embarrassed.
Afraid.
“Maya,” he said softly. “Don’t.”
She held the key toward the officer.
“This opens the basement door.”
The officer took it.
“Why do you have this?”
Maya looked at Adrian.
“Because years ago, somebody gave it to me and told me that if anything happened to her, I was supposed to open that door.”
My stomach turned.
“Anything happened to who?”
Maya looked at me.
“A woman named Natalie.”
Adrian jerked against the officer holding him.
Charles shouted.
“Maya!”
She flinched, but kept talking.
“Natalie was Adrian’s first fiancée.”
I stared at my husband.
Adrian had told me he had never been engaged before me.
Maya swallowed hard.
“Natalie disappeared eight years ago.”
Then from somewhere beneath our feet came a sound.
A dull metallic bang.
Everyone stopped breathing.
The younger officer looked toward the hallway.
Another bang.
May you like
Three slow knocks.
From inside the basement.
