Chapter 2: The Secret in His Pocket
The ringtone continued.
One note after another.
Loud.
Clear.
Impossible.
Nobody moved.
The mourners who had been crying moments earlier now sat completely still, staring at the coffin.
A child in the back row whispered, “Is that Uncle Marcus’s phone?””
His mother quickly pulled him closer.
“Don’t say anything.””
But everyone was thinking the same thing.
The phone was inside the coffin.
Inside Marcus’s black suit pocket.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“No.””
It was barely a word.
But Nia heard it.
She turned.
“What did you say?””
Evelyn looked at her quickly.
“I said this is impossible.””
The phone kept ringing.
Nia watched Evelyn carefully.
A mother should look devastated.
A mother should look confused.
But Evelyn looked terrified.
Not because she was hearing her dead son’s phone.
Because she knew exactly where it was.
“Nia,” Evelyn said quietly, “step away from the coffin.””
The request sounded less like concern and more like an order.
Nia stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because you don’t understand what’s happening.””
“Then explain it.””
Evelyn looked around at the crowd.
Too many people.
Too many witnesses.
Her jaw tightened.
“I said step away.””
Nia placed both hands on the edge of the coffin.
“No.””
The room shifted.
Several mourners stood.
Marcus’s best friend, Daniel, looked between them.
“Mrs. Reed, maybe we should call someone.””
Evelyn didn’t look away from Nia.
“No police.””
That made the room even quieter.
Daniel frowned.
“Why not?””
Evelyn finally turned toward him.
“Because we don’t know what this is.””
Nia felt something cold move through her.
A person who had lost someone didn’t say that.
A person who knew something did.
The phone rang again.
Nia looked down at Marcus.
The man she was supposed to marry.
The man who had spent two years making her laugh when life became too heavy.
The man who had held her after her father’s funeral and promised she would never face pain alone.
Now he was lying in front of her with a secret hidden in his pocket.
She remembered their final conversation.
It wasn’t supposed to be their final conversation.
That was what hurt the most.
Marcus had called her from the hospital three days earlier.
His voice sounded weak.
“Nia, I need you to listen carefully.””
She had laughed nervously.
“Why do you sound like you’re about to tell me a movie secret?””
He didn’t laugh.
That was when she knew something was wrong.
“Promise me something.””
“What?””
“If anything happens to me, you go to my funeral.””
“Marcus, stop talking like that.””
“Promise me.””
She had closed her eyes.
“Okay. I promise.””
“And if my mother tells you not to come?””
Nia remembered sitting up in bed.
“What?””
“Promise me you won’t listen.””
“Marcus, what are you talking about?””
But he never answered.
The call ended.
The next morning, she received the news.
Marcus Reed was dead.
Now she understood why he had made her promise.
A movement pulled her back.
Evelyn was reaching into the coffin.
Straight toward Marcus’s pocket.
Nia reacted instantly.
She grabbed Evelyn’s wrist.
“Don’t touch it.””
The words came out sharper than she expected.
The entire chapel watched.
Evelyn stared at her.
For a moment, neither woman moved.
Then Evelyn whispered, “You have no idea what you’re doing.””
Nia tightened her grip.
“I think I’m the only person here who does.””
Evelyn’s eyes filled with anger.
Or maybe fear.
“Let go of me.””
“No.””
The phone kept ringing.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Mrs. Reed, why are you trying to take his phone?””
Evelyn pulled her arm away.
“I’m his mother.””
“That’s not an answer,” Nia said.
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
Her expression softened for half a second.
Then it disappeared.
“He left things behind that you don’t understand.””
Nia looked at the coffin.
“Then maybe I should understand.””
She reached toward Marcus’s suit pocket.
Several mourners gasped.
Evelyn moved again.
“Nia, don’t.””
That was the first time Evelyn sounded afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
Nia slowly reached inside the pocket.
Her fingers touched something cold.
A phone.
The ringing stopped.
The silence afterward was worse.
She pulled it out.
The screen lit up.
Everyone leaned forward.
An incoming call.
Unknown Number.
The time on the screen:
9:14 A.M.
Nia stopped breathing.
Her hands began shaking.
“That’s the exact time he called me.””
Nobody spoke.
But Evelyn did.
Barely.
A whisper.
“No…”
Nia looked up.
Because Evelyn wasn’t looking at the phone.
She was looking at Nia.
Like she was seeing something she never expected to see.
And then Nia noticed something else.
May you like
Evelyn wasn’t surprised by the phone.
She was surprised that Nia had found it.
