Chapter 3 - the woman in the photograph
Margaret waited until Vanessa left for a charity luncheon before examining the photograph properly.
She sat at the kitchen table.
Adrian looked younger in the picture.
Vanessa looked different too.
Less polished.
Less controlled.
But the third person was what interested Margaret.
Claire.
She appeared to be close to Vanessa's age.
The women resembled each other slightly.
Not sisters.
Perhaps cousins.
Maybe friends.
Claire had auburn hair and an open smile.
Adrian stood between them, one arm around each woman's shoulder.
Behind them was a lake.
Margaret searched the internet.
Claire and Adrian.
Nothing.
Claire and Vanessa.
Nothing useful.
Then she searched Adrian Cole six years ago lake photograph.
Still nothing.
She nearly gave up.
Then she searched charity foundations connected to Adrian's company.
One result appeared.
A photograph from a fundraiser six years earlier.
Adrian stood beside a red haired woman.
The caption identified her.
Claire Bennett.
Margaret clicked.
Claire Bennett had worked as a legal analyst for the Cole Foundation.
Two years later, her name disappeared from public records connected to the company.
Margaret searched again.
Claire Bennett New York.
Hundreds of results.
She added Cole.
Then she found an article.
FORMER COLE FOUNDATION EMPLOYEE DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT.
Margaret's heart began beating faster.
Claire Bennett, thirty one, had died after her car left a mountain road in upstate New York.
The accident occurred four years earlier.
Four months before Adrian married Vanessa.
Margaret read the article twice.
Police found no evidence of another vehicle.
Weather conditions had been poor.
Claire was believed to have lost control.
Margaret stared at the photograph.
Why would Vanessa keep a picture of a dead woman hidden inside Noah's closet?
The elevator chimed.
Margaret closed the browser.
Vanessa entered.
The luncheon had ended early.
Margaret slipped the photograph into her apron.
"Where is Noah?"
"Napping."
Vanessa removed her coat.
"Good."
She walked toward the hallway.
Then stopped.
Margaret could see the moment Vanessa realized something.
She turned.
"Were you in Noah's closet?"
Margaret's throat tightened.
"This morning."
"Why?"
"I was putting away laundry."
Vanessa walked closer.
"Did you touch anything?"
"Clothes."
"Anything else?"
"No."
Vanessa studied her.
Margaret had lied to employers before.
Usually about harmless things.
No, I did not see who broke the vase.
No, I do not know where your daughter went last night.
But this lie felt different.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"You are a terrible liar."
Margaret said nothing.
Vanessa held out her hand.
"Give it to me."
"What?"
"The photograph."
Margaret's stomach dropped.
Vanessa smiled slightly.
"You left the storage box crooked."
Margaret removed the photograph from her apron.
Vanessa took it.
For several seconds, her face revealed nothing.
Then Margaret asked, "Who was Claire?"
Vanessa looked up.
"Someone who died."
"I read about her."
"Of course you did."
"Did Mr. Cole know her well?"
Vanessa's smile returned.
"You really want to lose your job, don't you?"
"I asked a question."
"And I don't owe you an answer."
Vanessa tore the photograph in half.
Then again.
She dropped the pieces into the trash.
Margaret watched.
"Why was it in Noah's room?"
Vanessa's eyes became cold.
"Get out."
"Mrs. Cole."
"Pack your things."
Margaret stared.
Vanessa pointed toward the service hallway.
"You are fired."
For one terrible moment, Margaret believed she had gone too far.
If she left, Noah would remain alone with Vanessa.
She needed Adrian.
"Mr. Cole hired me."
"And I am his wife."
"Then he should be informed."
"You can inform him from the sidewalk."
Vanessa took out her phone.
Margaret understood she had seconds.
She walked toward the service corridor.
But instead of entering her room, she stepped into the laundry closet.
She called Adrian.
He answered on the third ring.
"Margaret?"
"Mr. Cole, I'm sorry to disturb you."
"Is Noah okay?"
The question came immediately.
Margaret looked toward the door.
"Yes."
That was not completely true.
"What happened?"
"Mrs. Cole has dismissed me."
Silence.
"Why?"
Margaret hesitated.
Because I found a photograph of a dead woman hidden inside your son's closet.
Because your child is afraid of your wife.
Because I think Vanessa wants the security cameras disabled.
Instead she said, "I think you should come home."
Adrian's voice changed.
"Margaret, what happened?"
Footsteps approached.
Margaret whispered.
"I can't explain now."
The laundry door opened.
Vanessa stood there.
Margaret ended the call.
Vanessa looked at the phone.
"You called him."
"Yes."
For several seconds, Vanessa did nothing.
Then she laughed softly.
"You think he will believe you?"
Margaret stood straight.
"I think he deserves to decide."
Vanessa leaned against the doorway.
"You have been in this family fourteen months."
She pointed toward herself.
"I have been beside Adrian for seven years."
"Claire knew him too."
The smile disappeared.
Margaret immediately knew she had touched something dangerous.
Vanessa stepped inside the closet and closed the door behind her.
"Do not say that name again."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know anything."
"Then tell me."
Vanessa's voice dropped.
"Claire thought she could take everything from me."
Margaret did not move.
"What happened to her?"
For the first time, genuine emotion appeared on Vanessa's face.
Not sadness.
Not grief.
Rage.
"She lost."
Margaret's skin turned cold.
A second later, Vanessa opened the door.
"Pack your things."
Margaret stepped into the hallway.
Then the elevator chimed.
Both women turned.
Adrian walked out.
He was supposed to be in Chicago until tomorrow.
Noah's voice came from the nursery.
"Daddy."
Adrian looked from Margaret to Vanessa.
Then at the suitcase Margaret had not yet packed.
"What is going on?"
Vanessa smiled.
"Your housekeeper has become confused."
Margaret met Adrian's eyes.
"No, Mr. Cole."
Adrian's face hardened.
May you like
Margaret continued.
"I think your wife is hiding something."
