Chapter 6 - THE NUMBER THAT DIDN’T EXIST
The anonymous number traced nowhere useful at first.
It came from an app-based relay service and had been active for less than twenty-four hours.
That made Detective Jensen think the sender understood at least a little about avoiding easy identification.
Then, that afternoon, a third message arrived.
Ask about the blue recipe box in the den.
Nora read it over my shoulder.
“Well,” she said, “whoever this is wants us to keep digging.”
Deputies had overlooked the recipe box because it was exactly what it appeared to be—an old blue card box tucked onto a shelf in the den.
Inside were not recipes.
Inside were index cards written in Amanda’s hand.
Each card had a topic.
WHAT TO SAY IF LUCIA CRIES
WHAT TO SAY IF KIDS ARE ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ERIC SHOULD SAY ABOUT BANKING
IF POLICE ASK WHY LUCIA LEFT
I sat perfectly still as Nora read them aloud.
One card instructed:
She has been emotional since Daniel died. Keep saying you were worried and trying to help.
Another:
If kids mention Nana leaving, say she got overwhelmed and wandered off.
Another:
Eric says Lucia agreed to talk after dessert.
But the worst one was labeled simply:
IF SHE REFUSES
It said:
Call 911. Report possible confusion/disorientation. Mention age. Mention access to large sums of money. Mention children in home.
Nora placed the card face down.
I looked at Detective Jensen.
“So the police cars I saw?”
“Those units responded both to the anonymous tip about possible exploitation and, shortly after, to a 911 call from inside the property expressing concern about your mental state.”
“Amanda called?”
Jensen nodded.
“She did.”
That explained why the driveway filled so fast.
Two competing stories arrived at the same house at the same time.
Amanda was trying to launch her version.
May you like
Someone else had already warned law enforcement that the version was a trap.
And that person knew about the recipe box too.
