Chapter 6 - The Voice in the Drawer
At 12:37 a.m., Marcus unlocked Evelyn's bedroom while Detective Brooks observed over a video call.
"Don't rearrange anything," Brooks told them. "If you find the device, leave it where it is until an officer can collect it."
Naomi directed Marcus to the sewing basket beside Evelyn's favorite armchair. Under spools of thread lay a palm-sized digital recorder.
The screen showed six saved files.
Marcus sent a photograph to Brooks and waited for officers to retrieve it. Adrian sat on the floor outside the bedroom as if his legs had forgotten their purpose.
"She kept telling me she wanted someone to listen to her stories," he said.
"Maybe she meant more than the stories," Naomi answered.
At two, Brooks called from the station. She had listened to the files and could describe what mattered, though she wasn't releasing copies yet.
The first was Evelyn telling a story about the summer Adrian learned to swim. The second contained only music from the radio.
The third began with Celeste's voice.
"You can sign the papers while you're still capable," she said, "or the doctor can explain to everyone that you aren't."
Evelyn answered clearly. "What doctor?"
"One who understands our situation."
Adrian gripped the arm of his chair.
"That's her," he said.
"I know," Brooks replied. "But there's a more important detail. At the end, another person speaks."
A man's voice asked, "And the bank?"
Celeste responded, "Martin will take care of the bank. Adrian never reads the attachments."
Adrian stopped breathing for a moment.
"Martin Cross?"
"We're checking. Don't contact him yet."
Naomi looked at the bedroom door. She thought of Evelyn sitting behind it, gathering evidence with shaking hands while nobody came to ask why.
Brooks spoke again.
"There's one more recording. It's shorter."
"What does it say?" Adrian asked.
May you like
"Your mother named the person Celeste planned to frame next."
Adrian looked at Naomi.
