Chapter 6 - the wedding that could not be canceled)
The police found no sign of forced entry.
Thomas's truck remained outside.
His wallet lay on the kitchen counter.
His phone was gone.
So was the old photograph of Richard wearing the third key.
Claire stood inside the house while a sheriff questioned Ethan.
Marcus spoke quietly with two security officers near the porch.
Claire watched him carefully.
Six minutes.
Vanessa's words repeated inside her head.
Ask Marcus why he was six minutes away.
She waited until they were alone.
"Where were you before I pressed the panic button in Queens?"
Marcus looked at her.
"I told you."
"You said you were six minutes away."
"Correct."
"Why?"
"Mr. Ashford asked me to stay near you."
"Which Mr. Ashford?"
Marcus did not answer immediately.
Claire's stomach tightened.
"Ethan?"
"Richard."
Claire stared at him.
"Richard ordered you to follow me."
"He asked me to make sure you were protected."
"Did Ethan know?"
"No."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was contracted by Richard Ashford."
"Are you still?"
Marcus looked toward the room where Ethan stood.
"Not anymore."
Claire folded her arms.
"When did that change?"
"This morning."
"Convenient."
Marcus did not defend himself.
"Did you close the storage door?"
"No."
"Did you take Thomas?"
"No."
"Did Richard?"
"I don't know."
Claire almost walked away.
Marcus spoke again.
"But I know Richard is afraid."
She stopped.
"Of what?"
"Not the key."
"What then?"
"You."
Claire turned.
Marcus continued.
"Your mother hid something for seventeen years. Richard believed it had disappeared with her. Then you announced you were marrying Ethan."
"Why would that frighten him?"
"Because marriage gives you legal access to parts of the Ashford family trust."
Claire stared.
"I don't want their money."
"It isn't about money."
"What is it about?"
Marcus looked toward the mountains.
"Control."
Before Claire could ask another question, Ethan entered.
"The sheriff wants us back at the lodge."
Claire saw exhaustion in his face.
"Any news about Thomas?"
"No."
"Then I'm not leaving."
"Claire."
"Someone took him because we opened one lock."
"We don't know that."
"We know enough."
Ethan lowered his voice.
"You need to go back to New York."
"No."
"Lily is there."
"Exactly."
"Then go to her."
Claire stepped closer.
"And leave you here alone with your father?"
"I'm not afraid of him."
"Maybe you should be."
Ethan looked hurt.
Claire regretted the words immediately.
But not enough to take them back.
That afternoon Richard Ashford arrived by helicopter.
He entered Saint Orison wearing a dark overcoat as if he were attending a business meeting rather than walking into a possible kidnapping investigation.
Claire met him in the courtyard.
"You knew my mother."
Richard looked at her for a long moment.
"Yes."
"You knew Daniel Rowe."
"Yes."
"Did you kill either of them?"
Ethan inhaled sharply.
Richard did not react.
"No."
"Did you have anything to do with their deaths?"
"No."
"Where is Thomas?"
"I don't know."
Claire removed the silver key from beneath her sweater.
Richard's eyes dropped to it.
There.
Fear.
Real fear.
"You were looking for this."
"Once."
"Why?"
"Because your mother stole it."
"My mother said she was protecting it."
"People often rewrite their own motives."
"Did she know about the lower chamber?"
Richard looked toward the chapel.
"Yes."
"What's inside?"
"Something that should remain buried."
Claire laughed bitterly.
"That's not suspicious at all."
Richard turned to Ethan.
"Cancel the wedding."
Claire blinked.
The message on Thomas's table had demanded the opposite.
The wedding must happen at Saint Orison.
"Why?" Ethan asked.
Richard looked at Claire.
"Because whoever is doing this wants all of us here at the same time."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Claire studied him.
For the first time Richard Ashford did not look powerful.
He looked trapped.
"If you're innocent," she said, "help us open the chamber."
Richard's expression closed.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because opening that door will not bring your mother back."
Claire stepped toward him.
"No. But it might tell me why she died."
Richard said nothing.
Then Claire understood something.
"You know where the third key is."
Richard looked away.
Ethan stared at his father.
"Give it to us."
"No."
"Father."
"No."
Claire saw the argument forming.
Then Richard said something neither of them expected.
"I can't give you the key because I haven't had it for seventeen years."
"Who does?" Claire asked.
May you like
Richard looked toward the cliff.
"Daniel Rowe."
