Chapter 2 - The Empty Chair
Claire did not return because she wanted to rescue Eleanor.
She returned because nearly sixty people were trapped inside a locked mansion with Mia’s grandmother missing, and whoever had taken Eleanor might also know why Adrian had called.
Daniel forced open a narrow service entrance beside the kitchen. Claire made Mia stay close as they stepped into the dark house.
The air smelled of extinguished candles and spilled wine.
Guests crowded the ballroom beneath red emergency lights. Eleanor’s chair at the head table was empty. Her diamond necklace lay across the white tablecloth.
Victor had returned through another entrance and was issuing instructions to two security guards.
“No one leaves until we understand what happened.”
Claire raised her phone.
“You have no legal authority to keep anyone here.”
Victor’s gaze landed on the letter in her hand.
His composure slipped for less than a second.
“Where did you get that?”
“You gave it to me.”
“The envelope was supposed to contain a statement from your mother.”
Daniel stepped beside Claire.
“You didn’t know what was inside?”
Victor ignored him.
Claire unfolded the letter.
“My father warned me not to trust you.”
The nearby guests turned toward Victor.
His jaw tightened.
“Your father suffered from confusion during his final illness.”
“He wrote this two years before he became sick.”
“You cannot know that.”
“I recognize the stationery. It came from his office in London. He only worked there during the Mercer investigation.”
Victor’s eyes changed.
Claire had struck something.
“What investigation?” Daniel asked.
Victor faced the room.
“This is not the time for old family disputes.”
“Then tell us where Eleanor is,” Claire said.
The house manager, Mrs. Finch, emerged from the hallway.
She had served the Ashcroft family since Claire was a child. Her gray hair had escaped its careful knot, and blood marked one sleeve.
Mia clung more tightly to Claire’s hand.
“Mrs. Finch, are you hurt?”
“It isn’t my blood.”
The room fell silent.
Mrs. Finch looked at the empty chair.
“I found this in the east corridor.”
She placed a silver object on the table.
It was one of Eleanor’s earrings.
A thin red streak crossed the diamond.
Richard Ashcroft pushed through the crowd.
“Call the police.”
“The landline is dead,” Victor said. “The storm may be blocking mobile service.”
Claire checked her phone.
No signal.
That made no sense. Adrian’s call had come through minutes earlier.
Richard pointed at Claire.
“This began when she arrived.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“She turned on her camera, the power failed, and then Mother disappeared.”
Claire held his stare.
“I came here carrying a handmade gift from your niece.”
Richard looked away from Mia.
His wife, Celeste, did not.
Celeste wore a dark green gown and an expression of calculated concern. She had always smiled at Claire in public and repeated Eleanor’s cruelties in private.
“Where were you when the lights went out?” Celeste asked.
“In the driveway.”
“With Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“And who called you?”
Claire’s pulse slowed.
She had not told anyone about Adrian.
Mia answered before she could stop her.
“My daddy.”
The entire room turned toward them.
Richard gave a disbelieving laugh.
“Adrian Vale is dead.”
“He is not dead,” Claire said.
Murmurs moved through the guests.
Victor looked almost afraid.
Celeste recovered first.
“Claire, Adrian disappeared twelve years ago. His car was found at the cliffs. There was blood inside.”
“No body.”
“The police declared him dead.”
“At my mother’s insistence.”
Richard struck the table with his palm.
“You are using Mother’s disappearance to spread another one of your fantasies.”
Claire raised her phone.
“Would you like to repeat that while I’m recording?”
Richard stepped back.
Mia looked at the dark hallway.
“Mom.”
Claire crouched beside her.
“What is it?”
“I saw Grandma after the lights went out.”
Every adult nearby became still.
“Where?”
“Upstairs.”
“You were with me outside.”
“I saw her in the window.”
“Which window?”
Mia pointed above the ballroom doors.
The west wing.
The same wing Eleanor had kept locked since Claire’s father died.
Mrs. Finch whispered, “That part of the house has no electricity.”
Victor reached for Mia.
“You must be mistaken.”
Claire slapped his hand away.
“Do not touch her.”
Mia stared at Victor.
“She wasn’t alone.”
Victor’s face lost its color.
“Who was with her?”
“A man.”
“What man?”
Mia looked at Claire.
“He looked like the picture in your bedroom.”
Claire could not breathe.
“What picture?”
“The one you keep inside the drawer.”
Claire knew exactly which photograph she meant.
It showed Adrian standing beside the old pool at Ashcroft House, his shirt wet, his hair pushed back, and his arm around Claire’s shoulders.
Richard shook his head.
“This is absurd.”
Then a light appeared in the west-wing window.
Not an electric light.
A candle.
Someone lifted it behind the glass.
The flame illuminated a man’s silhouette.
Claire stepped toward the doors.
“Adrian.”
The candle went out.
A moment later, every phone in the ballroom vibrated at once.
Signal had returned.
Claire looked down.
A video message waited on her screen.
The sender was Eleanor.
The first frame showed Eleanor seated in a wooden chair.
May you like
Her hands were tied.
A voice behind the camera said, “Tell your daughter what you did twelve years ago.”
