Chapter 2 - The Key Around a Dead Man's Neck
Adrian stepped away from the door.
Mara looked as though she might faint.
"How does she know?"
"I don't know."
Celeste knocked again.
"Adrian."
There was almost amusement in her voice now.
"You don't need to hide."
Adrian opened the door.
Celeste was standing in the corridor wearing a pale silk robe.
For one moment, neither spoke.
Then she smiled.
The smile he had loved for two years.
The smile that suddenly seemed carefully practiced.
"You could have told me you were coming."
"I wanted to surprise my mother."
"You certainly surprised me."
Her gaze moved to Mara.
Then toward the study.
"What were you doing in here?"
Adrian watched her.
"What were you?"
Celeste's expression barely changed.
"Excuse me?"
"You were in this room earlier."
"No."
"Mara found Dad's key in your bedroom."
For the first time, Celeste lost control of her face.
Only for an instant.
Then she laughed softly.
"That key?"
Adrian said nothing.
"Your mother put it there."
"Why would she?"
"Because she doesn't trust me."
"Why?"
Celeste folded her arms.
"Because I'm the woman you're marrying."
Adrian almost smiled.
"My mother liked you."
"Before Thomas died."
There it was again.
That slight change whenever his father was mentioned.
Adrian walked past Celeste.
"I want to see Mom."
"She's sleeping."
"I'll wake her."
Celeste caught his arm.
"Adrian."
He looked at her hand.
She released him.
"She's not well."
"I know."
"No. You don't."
Celeste lowered her voice.
"Three nights ago she walked into the road wearing her nightgown."
Adrian turned toward Mara.
The housekeeper avoided his eyes.
"Is that true?"
Mara nodded reluctantly.
"Yes."
Celeste continued.
"Yesterday she locked herself inside the wine cellar. Last week she accused me of poisoning her tea."
Adrian studied her.
"Did you?"
Celeste's expression hardened.
"That's not funny."
"I didn't mean it to be."
He left them and climbed the staircase toward Evelyn's bedroom.
His mother was not asleep.
She was sitting beside the window.
When Adrian entered, she looked at him without surprise.
"You heard the message."
"Yes."
"Close the door."
He did.
Then Evelyn crossed the room and embraced him.
Adrian held her tightly.
For several seconds, he felt eight years old again.
Then he realized she was shaking.
"Mom."
"Don't believe anything she tells you."
"Celeste?"
Evelyn nodded.
Adrian guided her toward the bed.
"Tell me what happened."
She looked toward the door.
"Did Mara give you the key?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"What does it open?"
"I don't know."
Adrian frowned.
"You said you found what Dad hid."
"I found the key."
"That's all?"
"No."
Evelyn reached beneath her mattress.
She withdrew a folded photograph.
Adrian took it.
The photograph showed Thomas Vale standing outside a restaurant.
The date printed in the corner was twelve days before his death.
Beside him stood Celeste.
Adrian looked up.
"So?"
"Look behind them."
Adrian studied the image.
A dark sedan was parked near the curb.
A man was sitting inside.
Only part of his face was visible.
"Who is that?"
Evelyn whispered.
"Your father was terrified of him."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Adrian handed the photograph back.
"Mom, Celeste knew Dad. They worked together on the foundation."
"No."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your father hated her."
Adrian stared at her.
"That's not true."
"Thomas told me three days before he died that he wanted you to end the engagement."
Adrian's chest tightened.
"Dad never said that to me."
"He was going to."
"Why?"
"He discovered something."
"What?"
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"I don't know."
Frustration entered Adrian's voice.
"Mom, you keep saying you don't know."
"Because Thomas stopped telling me things."
"Why would he do that?"
"To protect me."
"From Celeste?"
"From whoever was behind her."
Adrian stood.
"This is exactly what the doctors said would happen."
Evelyn's face changed.
He immediately regretted the sentence.
But she did not become angry.
Instead, she looked unbearably sad.
"You think I'm confused."
"I think you're grieving."
"I watched your father die."
Adrian stopped.
The official report said Thomas had been alone.
His body had been discovered by Celeste after dinner.
"What did you say?"
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
"I watched him die."
Adrian sat again.
"Mom."
"I was outside the study."
"Why didn't you tell the police?"
"Because someone made sure I couldn't."
"What does that mean?"
Evelyn reached for his hand.
"The night Thomas died, I heard voices in the study."
"Whose?"
"Your father's."
She swallowed.
"And Celeste's."
Adrian did not move.
"They were arguing."
"What were they saying?"
"I couldn't hear everything."
"What did you hear?"
Evelyn looked directly at him.
"Thomas said, 'If Adrian learns what you really are, he'll never forgive me.'"
A chill moved through Adrian.
"Never forgive him for what?"
"I don't know."
"Then what happened?"
"I heard something break."
Evelyn's fingers tightened around his hand.
"I opened the door."
Her breathing became unsteady.
"Thomas was on the floor."
Adrian felt suddenly sick.
"Celeste was kneeling beside him."
"Helping him?"
"No."
Evelyn shook her head.
"She was taking something from his hand."
"What?"
"The key."
Adrian glanced toward the bedroom door.
The brass key was still in his pocket.
"Then why did the police report say Celeste found him alone?"
"Because before I could reach him, someone grabbed me from behind."
Adrian stared at her.
"Who?"
"I never saw his face."
"What happened?"
"Something pressed against my arm."
Her hand moved to the inside of her elbow.
"Then I woke up in my bedroom."
Adrian could barely breathe.
"Mom, are you saying someone drugged you?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I did."
"Who?"
"Dr. Mercer."
Adrian knew the name.
Evelyn's physician.
The man who later diagnosed her cognitive decline.
"What did he say?"
"That grief can create false memories."
Adrian stood very slowly.
"Where is the medical report from that night?"
"I tried to find it."
"And?"
"It is gone."
A knock came at the bedroom door.
They both froze.
Celeste spoke from outside.
"Adrian?"
Evelyn grabbed his wrist.
"Do not tell her what I told you."
"Why?"
"Because if she knows I remember..."
May you like
Evelyn's voice dropped to a whisper.
"...she'll finish what she started."
