It showed Claire smiling at some charity event.
She looked beautiful.
But Noah knew that photograph.
It had been taken three years earlier.
He knew because Claire had hated it.
She had once laughed about the picture and told Noah, "I look like I'm trying to sell toothpaste."
Noah stared at it now.
Something felt wrong.
He stepped toward the coffin.
A security guard immediately moved into his path.
"Stay back, son."
"That's my mother."
"I know."
"Then why can't I see her?"
The guard hesitated.
"Mr. Whitmore doesn't want anyone disturbing the service."
Noah looked toward Daniel.
Daniel was speaking quietly with an attorney.
Noah raised his voice.
"Daniel!"
Daniel turned.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds neither moved.
Then Daniel walked over.
"What is it?"
"I want to see Mom."
"You know why that's impossible."
"Everyone else is allowed to come close."
"You're upset."
"I just want to say goodbye."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You're going to have to accept that she's gone."
Noah swallowed.
Then he looked at the coffin again.
"I don't think she is."
The conversation stopped.
Daniel's attorney stared at the boy.
Several guests turned their heads.
Daniel slowly lowered his voice.
"Noah, this isn't the time."
"I heard her."
Daniel froze.
"What?"
"Last night."
A strange silence spread through the hall.
Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out an old cell phone.
"She called me."
Daniel's face changed.
Only for a second.
But Noah saw it.
"You received a call from your mother?"
"Yes."
"That's impossible."
"I know."
Noah pressed the screen.
"I didn't answer because I was asleep. But she left a message."
Daniel reached for the phone.
Noah pulled it away.
"I listened to it."
"What did it say?"
"Nothing."
Daniel frowned.
Noah's voice dropped.
"But I heard something."
"What?"
"Three knocks."
Victoria, Daniel's younger sister, suddenly looked up.
She had been standing near the back of the room.
She knew that sound.
Claire had always knocked three times whenever she entered Noah's room.
Three quick knocks.
Their private family signal.
Daniel turned toward Victoria.
"Don't encourage this."
Victoria didn't answer.
Because she remembered something.
Two nights earlier, she had received a strange message from Claire's old number.
There had been no words.
Only silence.
Then three knocks.
Victoria had assumed it was a technical error.
Now she wasn't so sure.
Noah looked at the coffin.
"I think Mom is trying to tell us something."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Enough."
"No."
The boy's voice shook.