Chapter 13: The Voice of the Woman We Buried
For several seconds, Daniel couldn't move.
The video had ended, but his eyes remained fixed on the screen.
Mateo stood beside him, gripping his father's sleeve.
"That was Mom.""
Daniel slowly shook his head.
"No, son.""
"But I heard her.""
"I know.""
"That's her voice.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
I had never seen a grown man look so frightened.
Officer Porter took the phone and replayed the recording. This time, he increased the volume.
The background was difficult to hear, but a woman's voice became clear.
"Daniel, if you're listening to this, something has gone terribly wrong.""
Then came another sound.
A metallic door closing.
And a man's voice.
"Elena, we don't have much time.""
Daniel suddenly grabbed the phone.
"Stop.""
Officer Porter paused the video.
"Do you recognize that voice?""
Daniel nodded.
"Thomas Reed.""
"Then the recording may be older than we thought.""
Daniel looked toward the screen.
"Thomas told me my wife was dead.""
Mateo stared at him.
"What do you mean?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Your mother died after the accident.""
He paused.
"At least, that's what I was told.""
Mateo's expression crumpled.
"Who told you?""
Daniel looked down.
"Patricia Vance.""
The security office became completely silent.
Eight years earlier, Daniel had been driving home with his wife, Elena, and their eight-year-old son.
A truck had struck their vehicle at an intersection.
Daniel remembered the impact.
The shattered glass.
The smell of gasoline.
Then waking up in a hospital room with his legs badly injured.
When he regained consciousness, Patricia Vance had been waiting beside his bed.
She told him Elena hadn't survived.
She said the authorities had identified her body and that arrangements had already been made.
Daniel had been too injured, medicated, and confused to question anything.
He had attended a closed-casket funeral.
He had buried a coffin.
And he had spent eight years believing his wife was gone.
Mateo's voice trembled.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel looked at him.
"Because I believed it was true.""
"Then who did we bury?""
Daniel had no answer.
Officer Porter immediately contacted the hospital and requested the original accident records.
Principal Collins was shaking her head.
"This is beyond a school investigation.""
Officer Brooks nodded.
"We need detectives.""
He called dispatch and requested an investigative team.
Daniel, however, was staring at another detail in the video.
The recording device in Helen Whitmore's hand.
"She took the recorder from my house.""
Officer Porter nodded.
"Which means we need to secure that location.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Please.""
A detective arrived twenty minutes later.
Her name was Detective Laura Mitchell.
She was in her early forties, with short dark hair and a calm expression that made everyone instinctively lower their voices.
After reviewing the documents, she asked Daniel to explain the accident.
He described everything he remembered.
Then she asked one question.
"Did you personally identify your wife's body?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
"Did you receive a death certificate?""
"Yes.""
"Did you see the medical examiner's report?""
"No.""
Detective Mitchell exchanged a glance with Officer Porter.
"That's important.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Are you telling me my wife might be alive?""
"I'm telling you we cannot accept a death determination without verifying the underlying records.""
Mateo stepped forward.
"Can you find her?""
Detective Mitchell looked at him.
"We're going to try.""
Then she turned toward Principal Collins.
"Do you recognize the woman in this video?""
"Yes. Helen Whitmore. Former superintendent.""
"Do you know where she lives?""
Principal Collins provided an address.
Detective Mitchell immediately requested officers to secure the property.
Daniel stood.
"I'm coming with you.""
"No," she replied.
He looked offended.
"That's my house.""
"And you are a witness in a potentially serious criminal investigation. I need you to remain available.""
Daniel's hands tightened.
"She's holding something that belongs to my family.""
"I understand. But I won't risk compromising the investigation.""
Mateo stepped closer to his father.
"Dad, please don't go.""
Daniel looked down.
Then he nodded.
Detective Mitchell turned toward the door.
Before leaving, she looked at me.
"Sofia, I understand you witnessed the incident involving Mateo. You'll need to give a formal statement.""
I nodded.
"Yes, ma'am.""
She gave me a small reassuring smile.
"Thank you for speaking up.""
After she left, Daniel sat beside Mateo.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Then Mateo whispered:
"If Mom is alive, why didn't she come back?""
Daniel looked at him.
"I don't know.""
"Did she forget about us?""
"No.""
His father answered immediately.
"Whatever happened, I don't believe she forgot you.""
Mateo lowered his head.
"I used to dream about her.""
Daniel pulled him closer.
"I did too.""
Then the security office phone rang.
Officer Brooks answered.
"Security.""
His expression changed.
"You're sure?""
He listened.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Detective Mitchell has located Helen Whitmore.""
Daniel stood.
"Where?""
"At the old administration building.""
"Did they arrest her?""
Officer Brooks shook his head.
"She wasn't there.""
"Then where?""
He looked at the computer.
"She left something behind.""
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed a woman standing outside a small medical facility.
She was older than in the family photographs Daniel remembered.
Her hair was shorter.
Her face was thinner.
But there was no mistaking her.
Elena Alvarez.
Mateo's mother.
Beneath the photograph was a handwritten address.
And a message:
*IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I DISAPPEARED, COME ALONE.*
Daniel stared at the screen.
May you like
Then he whispered his wife's name.
"Elena.""
