Chapter 3 - the housekeeper who disappeared
October 14 was the date Evelyn died.
Lily found it engraved on the memorial stone in the family garden.
Evelyn Anne Vale
Beloved wife and mother
October 14
The year was carved beneath the date, followed by a line Adrian had chosen.
Love leaves a light behind.
Lily knelt beside the stone and ran her fingers over the words.
Someone stood behind her.
She turned quickly.
Margaret Vale held a black umbrella over her silver hair. Adrian’s mother had lived in the mansion since his father’s death. She controlled the household staff, the family’s public appearances and nearly every detail of the approaching wedding.
“You’ll ruin your dress in the mud,” Margaret said.
“It’s an old dress.”
“No dress is old if it can still be seen.”
Margaret looked at the memorial stone.
“You should stop coming here alone.”
“Why?”
“Sadness becomes a habit.”
“Do you know where Ruth went?”
The umbrella shifted.
Only slightly.
But Lily noticed.
“Ruth Bell?”
“Yes.”
“I have not heard that name in years.”
“Did she leave after Mom died?”
“She was dismissed.”
“Daddy said she left.”
“Your father does not enjoy unpleasant details.”
“Why was she dismissed?”
Margaret looked toward the mansion.
“Ruth became unstable.”
“What did she do?”
“She told lies.”
“What kind of lies?”
Margaret’s voice cooled.
“Questions are useful only when you are prepared for the answers.”
She walked away before Lily could ask another.
That afternoon, Lily searched the library.
The mansion’s household records were stored in a cabinet behind the librarian’s desk. The current housekeeper, Mrs. Finch, believed Lily was looking for old photographs for a school project.
Lily found Ruth’s employment file beneath several years of tax documents.
Ruth Bell had worked for the Vale family for twenty-eight years.
She had raised Adrian after Margaret became ill following his birth.
She had accompanied Evelyn to medical appointments.
She had been listed as Lily’s emergency guardian.
Her employment ended on October 18, four days after the accident.
Reason for termination:
Breach of confidentiality and removal of family property.
The signature beneath the statement belonged to Margaret.
Attached to the file was a copy of a police report.
Ruth had allegedly stolen jewelry, private medical records and a box of video tapes.
No charges had been filed because the missing items were returned anonymously.
Lily was closing the folder when a photograph slipped out.
It showed Ruth standing beside Evelyn near the west corridor.
Between them was a pregnant woman whose face had been damaged by water.
Only her eyes remained visible.
They were bright blue.
Like Lily’s.
On the back of the photograph, someone had written:
Three mothers. One promise.
The library door opened.
Lily shoved the photograph into her pocket.
Julian Cross entered.
He stopped when he saw the employment file.
“You shouldn’t be reading that.”
“Who is the woman in the picture?”
“What picture?”
Lily knew from his expression that he was lying.
She held the photograph behind her back.
“Did you know Ruth?”
“Everyone knew Ruth.”
“Why did she leave?”
Julian closed the library door.
“Some people believe protecting a child means hiding the truth.”
“Do you?”
His gaze moved toward the security camera in the corner.
“Not anymore.”
He took a business card from his wallet and wrote an address on the back.
“Go there only if you believe your father is in danger.”
“Who lives there?”
“No one now.”
Before Lily could ask more, footsteps approached.
Julian took the employment file and returned it to the cabinet.
Celeste entered carrying wedding invitations.
“What are you two discussing?”
“School,” Julian said.
Celeste looked at Lily.
“Is that true?”
Lily nodded.
Celeste smiled.
“I hope you are learning something useful.”
That night, Lily studied the address Julian had given her.
17 Bellweather Lane.
She searched the name on Adrian’s tablet.
The house had belonged to Ruth Bell.
It had been empty for six years.
May you like
The next morning, Lily placed Evelyn’s camcorder in her backpack, took money from her birthday jar and left the mansion through the kitchen entrance.
She did not notice the black car following the bus.
