Chapter 2: The Call from the Storage Unit
Vanessa's phone continued ringing.
She clutched it against her chest.
"Marcus, give me a minute.""
"Who is calling?""
"It's a work matter.""
"From a storage unit?""
She swallowed.
"Someone is using that name to frighten me.""
I looked at the screen.
The call ended.
A moment later, a notification appeared.
*MISSED CALL — UNIT 408*
Then another message arrived.
Vanessa turned the screen away.
Too late.
I had already seen the preview.
He found the card. Get the boy away from the house before he tells his father.
I read it twice.
Then I slowly raised my eyes.
"Who sent that?""
"No one.""
"Vanessa.""
"It's a misunderstanding.""
"A misunderstanding?""
I pointed at the message.
"Someone knows Noah found that card. Someone wants him away from me. And you expect me to believe this is a misunderstanding?""
She grabbed her phone.
"You're twisting everything.""
Noah stepped closer.
"Dad, there's something else.""
Vanessa spun around.
"Don't you dare.""
I raised my hand.
"Let him speak.""
Noah took a breath.
"Yesterday, I came downstairs because I forgot my charger. Your office door was open. Vanessa was talking to someone.""
"Who?"" I asked.
"I couldn't see. But she said something about the unit being cleared before Friday.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"That's not what I said.""
Noah continued.
"Then the person asked about the documents. She said they were already inside.""
My heart began beating harder.
"What documents?""
"I don't know. But when she noticed me, she hung up.""
Vanessa took a step toward him.
"You were listening to a private conversation?""
"I was walking past the door!""
"You've always had a problem respecting boundaries.""
I moved between them.
"That's enough.""
Vanessa looked at me with an expression of wounded disbelief.
"You are letting a teenager destroy our marriage.""
I almost laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because she was still trying to make this about herself.
"Noah is my son. He doesn't need to destroy anything. He's telling me what happened.""
She picked up her wineglass.
Her fingers shook so badly that a little wine spilled onto the table.
"I need to get some air.""
"You're not leaving with that phone.""
She froze.
"Excuse me?""
"I want to know who's calling you.""
"You have no right to control my phone.""
"Then tell me who UNIT 408 is.""
She stared at me.
For a long moment, I thought she might finally tell the truth.
Instead, she laughed bitterly.
"You know what your problem is, Marcus? You think money gives you the right to control everyone.""
I looked at the keycard.
"No. I think owning a business gives me the right to know why someone is accessing its restricted property.""
She put down the glass.
"Fine. Call your security team. Call the police. Call whoever you want.""
Then she picked up her handbag.
"But don't expect me to stay in a house where my husband treats me like a criminal.""
She walked toward the stairs.
I let her go.
Not because I trusted her.
Because I wanted to see what she would do next.
As soon as she disappeared upstairs, I called Daniel Brooks, my company's head of security.
He answered on the second ring.
"Marcus?""
"I need you to check something.""
"What's wrong?""
"Unit 408 at Eastbrook. I want the access history, camera footage, and the name attached to the unit.""
There was a pause.
"Unit 408?""
"Yes.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Marcus, are you sure?""
That question made my stomach turn.
"What do you mean?""
"That unit is supposed to be sealed.""
"Supposed to be?""
"Your father placed a restriction on it before he died. Nobody is supposed to enter without your written authorization.""
I gripped the phone.
"My father?""
"Yes. The restriction is still active in our system.""
I looked toward the staircase.
Vanessa had disappeared into our bedroom.
"Who has accessed it?""
"I'll check.""
"Daniel, listen carefully. Nobody touches anything inside that unit until I get there.""
"Understood.""
"And send me the access logs.""
"I'll have them ready.""
I ended the call.
Noah was standing beside the console table, staring at the scattered schoolbooks.
I crouched and started picking them up.
"Hey.""
He didn't look at me.
"Are you angry with me?""
The question hit harder than anything Vanessa had said.
"Why would I be angry with you?""
"Because she said I was ruining your marriage.""
I put the books into his backpack.
"Noah, look at me.""
He slowly raised his eyes.
"You didn't ruin anything. You hear me?""
His lower lip trembled.
"I didn't want you to fight because of me.""
I pulled him into a hug.
For a few seconds, he held himself stiffly.
Then his arms wrapped around me.
"I'm sorry I wasn't home sooner," I whispered.
He shook his head against my shoulder.
"It's okay.""
"No, it isn't.""
We stayed there until he finally stepped back.
I took him upstairs and checked his room.
His closet was half-empty. Vanessa had packed more than I initially realized.
Even his desk drawers had been emptied.
On the bed was a small cardboard box.
Inside were photographs, old birthday cards, and the few things he still had from his mother.
I picked up a photograph of Emily holding Noah at the beach.
"She packed this?"" I asked.
Noah nodded.
"She said I didn't need reminders of the past if I was going to live somewhere else.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
Emily had been gone six years.
And Vanessa still couldn't tolerate the sight of her.
"Leave this box here," I said.
"Nobody is taking it anywhere.""
Noah nodded.
When I came downstairs, Vanessa was waiting in the living room.
She had changed clothes and was holding a small suitcase.
"Where are you going?"" I asked.
"To my sister's.""
"Fine.""
She looked surprised.
"You're not going to stop me?""
"No.""
She walked toward the door.
Then she stopped.
"Marcus, before you make any decisions, remember that I have been there for you.""
I said nothing.
"I took care of this house. I helped raise Noah. I gave up opportunities to support your career.""
"You packed his mother's photograph into a suitcase.""
Her mouth tightened.
"That boy has been manipulating you for years.""
I looked at her.
"Go.""
She opened the door.
But before stepping outside, she turned back.
"One more thing. Don't go to Eastbrook tonight.""
I went still.
"Why?""
She hesitated.
Then she forced a smile.
"Because it's late. You're tired. And whatever you think you'll find there won't change anything.""
The door closed behind her.
I stood in silence.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel.
Marcus, I checked the access logs.
Then another message appeared.
The unit was opened six times in the last thirty days.
And then a final message.
The access card is registered to someone who died four years ago.
I stared at the screen.
The name appeared beneath the message.
*EMILY CARTER.*
My first wife.
May you like
Noah's mother.
And suddenly, I understood why Vanessa had been so desperate to get my son out of the house.
