Chapter 5 - THE DEAD WOMAN'S PHONE
Natalie’s phone was missing.
Then found.
Not in the basement.
In a storage locker rented under Madison’s name.
Of course.
Inside the locker:
boxes of company records,
a laptop,
cash,
and newborn supplies.
Madison froze when she saw the inventory.
Newborn supplies?
Diapers.
Formula.
Blankets.
Why?
Then investigators recovered deleted files.
Natalie had been preparing to disappear.
Not with Sophie.
With another baby.
Her sister’s child.
Natalie’s younger sister, Leah Cross, was pregnant and fleeing an abusive partner.
Natalie planned to help her relocate.
The supplies were for Leah.
That removed one horrifying theory.
Then the phone.
Messages between Natalie and Evan.
NATALIE:
I’M DONE CLEANING YOUR MESS.
EVAN:
YOU’RE IN THIS TOO.
NATALIE:
NOT LIKE YOU.
EVAN:
YOU TOOK THE MONEY.
NATALIE:
BECAUSE YOU SAID IT WAS LEGAL.
Then:
NATALIE:
MADISON NEEDS TO KNOW BEFORE THE BABY COMES.
EVAN:
NO.
There.
Natalie was going to tell Madison.
Then another:
NATALIE:
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME, SHE GETS EVERYTHING.
Ramirez focused.
What did that mean?
Not the life policy.
A file.
Natalie had created an encrypted archive and scheduled release.
Recipient:
Madison.
But the email never sent.
Why?
Account disabled after Natalie’s death.
Still, forensic investigators recovered the archive.
Inside:
screenshots,
bank records,
voice memos,
photographs.
Natalie had been documenting Evan.
Why?
Because she believed he was setting her up to absorb the fraud.
Then a voice recording.
Evan:
IF THIS BLOWS UP, MADISON CAN SAY SHE DIDN’T KNOW.
Natalie:
SHE DOESN’T KNOW.
Evan:
EXACTLY.
Silence.
Then:
Natalie:
AND ME?
Evan:
YOU KNEW WHAT YOU SIGNED.
Natalie:
NO, I KNEW WHAT YOU TOLD ME.
That changed everything.
Evan had not only used Madison.
He had also used Natalie.
Two women.
Two different forms of trust.
Then Natalie’s final voice memo:
If you’re hearing this, Evan is going to say I stole from him. He’s lying about that. I did take money, but he told me it was payment. The insurance policy is wrong. Madison doesn’t know. I’m going to tell her after the baby is born because I’m scared stress will hurt her.
Madison cried listening.
Natalie had still cared.
After four years.
Then Ramirez asked:
“Who killed her?”
The recording did not say.
No obvious confession.
Medical examiner found death caused by acute intoxication from a combination of prescription sedatives and alcohol.
Could be accidental.
Could be intentional.
No graphic injury.
No obvious physical assault.
Natalie had a prescription.
But the dosage in her system was high.
Then something worse.
One prescription bottle found near the body carried Madison Harper’s name.
Madison had never taken that medication.
May you like
Someone had filled it under her identity.
Again.
