Chapter 9 - EMILY’S LAST GIFT
Ava was barely two when Emily died.
She could not possibly remember instructions.
But Emily had built rituals with her daughter.
Songs.
Books.
Games.
One involved a wooden music box shaped like a lighthouse.
Ryan had packed it away after Emily’s death.
Marcus found it in storage.
Ava smiled when she saw it.
“Mommy box.”
Ryan sat beside her.
“Do you remember this?”
Ava nodded.
“Mommy said never let Natalie touch it.”
Ryan’s eyes widened.
Emily had known.
Before she died.
The music box played an old lullaby.
Nothing else happened.
Marcus dismantled the base.
Inside was a memory card.
Ryan stared at it.
Emily had hidden Daniel’s original recording inside Ava’s toy.
They played it.
Wind.
Daniel.
Natalie.
Evan.
This time the argument continued.
Daniel shouted—
Give me the drive.
Natalie answered—
You really think Emily Collins is going to save you?
Evan said—
Natalie, enough.
Daniel—
Ryan gets everything tomorrow.
Then movement.
A struggle.
Daniel shouted.
A crash.
Silence.
Evan screamed—
Oh my God.
Then Natalie’s voice.
Calm.
Almost bored.
Stop looking over the railing.
Evan was crying.
You pushed him.
Natalie replied—
No.
A pause.
He chose not to let go.
Ryan felt his stomach turn.
Then another sound.
A telephone ringing.
Natalie answered.
“Daniel’s phone.”
Her voice changed.
Pleasant.
“Hello?”
A pause.
“Oh, Emily.”
Ryan leaned forward.
Natalie continued.
“Yes.”
“Daniel’s here.”
Another pause.
Natalie looked over the balcony.
Then said—
“He’ll call you back.”
The recording ended.
It proved Natalie caused Daniel’s fall.
But not Emily’s death.
Still, it gave police enough for a murder warrant.
Natalie remained missing.
That evening, Claire received a package.
No return address.
Inside was Daniel’s watch.
And a note.
YOUR BROTHER SHOULD HAVE STAYED QUIET.
Claire stared at it.
Ryan said—
“She’s threatening you.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
She turned the watch over.
“Daniel hated this watch.”
“Why keep it?”
“He didn’t.”
Claire opened the back.
Inside was a second memory chip.
Marcus extracted one file.
A spreadsheet.
Payment dates.
Names.
One final entry appeared four days before Emily died.
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE — E.C.
Payment authorized by initials.
M.C.
Ryan stared.
May you like
Margaret Collins.
His mother.
