She Thought She Was Saving a Homeless Old Man — Then She Discovered Why He Had Chosen Her
CHAPTER 7
Emily searched Laura’s old belongings.
Most had disappeared after her death.
But one box remained.
A box Emily had never opened.
Inside were old receipts, letters, and a cassette recorder.
Emily found an adapter and listened.
Static filled the room.
Then her mother’s voice.
Emily covered her mouth.
“Emily, if you’re hearing this…”
The recording crackled.
“I need you to understand something.”
A pause.
“Arthur Reed is not the person you should fear.”
Emily’s heart began pounding.
Laura continued.
“The person you should fear is the person closest to him.”
The recording stopped.
Emily stared at the device.
“That can’t be it.”
She rewound it.
Nothing.
She played it again.
Same words.
Then she noticed a faint sound beneath the recording.
A click.
She increased the volume.
Someone had entered the room where Laura was recording.
A man’s voice whispered:
“Laura.”
The recording ended.
Emily immediately called Arthur.
He answered.
“What happened?”
“I found my mother’s recording.”
Silence.
“She said you weren’t the person she feared.”
Arthur exhaled.
“Emily…”
“She said the person closest to you was dangerous.”
Arthur didn’t respond.
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Victor?”
Another silence.
Emily knew.
“You’ve suspected him.”
“I’ve suspected everyone.”
“Even your son?”
Arthur’s voice became cold.
“Daniel is not the enemy.”
“Then who is?”
Before Arthur could answer, the lights in Emily’s apartment went out.
She froze.
A shadow moved outside the window.
Then her phone received a message.
You should have stopped looking.
