## CHAPTER 7 — THE MUSIC BOX
Noah led them to the nursery.
Vanessa had redecorated the room twice, removing nearly everything that had belonged to Claire.
But Noah went directly to the window seat.
He reached beneath the cushion and pulled out a small wooden music box.
A silver moon was carved into its lid.
Logan recognized it.
Claire had owned it since childhood.
He had assumed it was destroyed in the crash.
Elena inserted the silver key.
The box opened.
Instead of music, a hidden compartment clicked beneath the velvet lining.
Inside was a folded note.
Logan unfolded it.
The handwriting belonged to Claire.
Logan,
If you are reading this, then they failed to erase everything.
Do not trust the medical records.
Do not trust the accident report.
And do not let Edmund control Noah’s inheritance.
E.M. knows what happened in the east wing.
The note ended there.
No signature.
No explanation of who E.M. was.
“Elena Marquez,” Detective Hale said.
Elena stared at her.
“I didn’t write it.”
“The initials match your name.”
“They also match Edmund Mercer.”
Logan read the warning again.
Claire had known his father was involved.
But why hide the note in a box given to Noah only a year ago?
Someone had placed it there recently.
Someone with access to Claire’s belongings.
Someone who wanted Logan to find it now.
Hale’s phone rang.
She listened for less than a minute before ending the call.
“Vanessa’s attorney filed an emergency motion.”
“For what?”
“She claims Elena manipulated Noah into making false statements.”
Logan laughed bitterly.
“They have thousands of hours of evidence.”
“Most of it was recorded illegally. Her attorney is challenging its admissibility.”
“What else?”
Hale looked at Elena.
“Vanessa says Elena kidnapped Noah for three days when he was four.”
Logan turned sharply.
“Did you?”
Elena’s silence lasted too long.
“It wasn’t a kidnapping.”
“Then what was it?”
“I took him out of the estate.”
“Without permission?”
“Yes.”
Logan stepped back.
“You’ve met Noah before.”
Elena looked at the boy.
“He doesn’t remember me.”
Noah touched the silver moon on the music box.
“I remember your song.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
Noah began humming a quiet melody.
Claire’s favorite lullaby.
Then he stopped and whispered, “The other lady sang it too.”
Logan knelt in front of him.
“What other lady?”
Noah looked directly at him.
May you like
“The lady Vanessa called Subject C.”
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