Chapter 4 - Arthur’s First Message
No one moved.
The envelope lay beside Arthur’s empty chair.
Lenora recovered first.
She pushed back from the table and reached for it.
Mr. Hale stood so quickly that his chair fell.
“Don’t.”
Lenora stopped.
Every face turned toward the lawyer.
He looked as shocked by his own reaction as everyone else.
Cassandra stared at him.
“What do you know?”
Mr. Hale slowly righted his chair.
“Arthur had mechanical compartments installed throughout the mansion.”
Lenora’s voice was low.
“You told me they had all been removed.”
“I said the ones listed in the architectural plans were removed.”
Evelyn rose.
The envelope was addressed to Lily.
She walked toward it.
Lenora stepped into her path.
“You will sit down.”
“It has Lily’s name on it.”
“It is part of my husband’s property.”
“Then why did he write my daughter’s name?”
Cassandra seized the envelope.
Evelyn grabbed her wrist.
“Give it to me.”
Cassandra pulled away.
“You don’t order me in my own home.”
A quiet mechanical sound came from the walls.
Then Arthur’s voice filled the dining room.
“If you are hearing this, Lily has returned to Ashford House.”
Lily gasped.
“Grandpa!”
The recording was clear and warm, exactly as Evelyn remembered him.
The relatives looked toward hidden speakers.
Arthur continued.
“Lily, I am sorry I could not keep my promise to watch you grow. There are truths in this house that I was too afraid to face while I was alive.”
Lenora’s face had turned gray.
She moved toward the wall panel.
“Turn it off.”
No servant obeyed.
“The first truth,” Arthur said, “is that the blue Easter egg belongs to Lily.”
Cassandra looked toward the silver bowl.
The egg was gone.
Everyone searched the table.
Lenora’s right hand was hidden beneath her napkin.
Evelyn saw it.
“So that’s why you grabbed it,” she said.
Lenora stood.
“This is a cruel trick.”
Arthur’s voice continued.
“The egg contains the first key. The second key is carried by the person who kept her promise.”
Evelyn thought of the brass key inside the envelope that would be delivered later that day, though she did not yet understand how.
“The person who kept her promise must choose whether to reveal herself.”
The recording stopped.
Silence returned.
Lily looked around hopefully.
“Was Grandpa talking to me?”
“Yes,” Evelyn said.
“Where is my egg?”
Lenora walked toward the fireplace.
Evelyn followed.
“Show us your hand.”
“You have forgotten your place.”
“And you have forgotten there are witnesses.”
Lenora spun around.
“Witnesses to what? A recording? A hidden envelope? These could have been planted by anyone.”
“Then give Lily the egg.”
“It is not hers.”
“Arthur said it was.”
“Arthur was sick.”
Mr. Hale flinched.
Evelyn noticed.
“Was he?”
Lenora’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you implying?”
“Nothing yet.”
Cassandra tore open the envelope despite the warning on the front.
A small photograph fell out.
It showed Arthur sitting at his desk with Lily on his lap.
Behind them stood a woman Evelyn did not recognize.
She wore a gray suit and held a black legal case.
On the back of the photograph, Arthur had written a date.
Two months before his death.
Below it was a message.
Mara holds the second key.
Trust the rabbit.
Cassandra read the words aloud.
Lenora grabbed the photograph.
“Who is Mara?”
Mr. Hale sat down heavily.
“Mara Quinn.”
“You said she disappeared.”
“She closed her office.”
“You told me she destroyed Arthur’s private files.”
“No,” Mr. Hale said. “I told you the files were no longer in the office.”
Lenora stared at him.
“You lied to me.”
“I protected attorney-client privilege.”
“He was my husband.”
“He was also my client.”
Cassandra turned to Evelyn.
“What rabbit?”
Lily hugged Captain.
Everyone looked at it.
Evelyn stepped in front of her daughter.
“It is a toy.”
Lenora approached slowly.
“Where did you get it?”
“It was delivered yesterday.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know.”
Lenora held out her hand.
“Give it to me.”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
Lenora’s smile disappeared.
“Lily.”
Captain’s hidden blue light began blinking beneath the fur, though no one noticed.
Evelyn lifted Lily from her chair.
“We’re leaving.”
“You haven’t signed the agreement,” Cassandra said.
“I won’t.”
Lenora looked toward the security guards stationed outside the dining room.
“Close the front gates.”
Mr. Hale stood again.
“You cannot detain them.”
“I am not detaining anyone. I am protecting my property.”
Evelyn looked around the table.
“Does anyone here think this is normal?”
No one answered.
Lenora smiled.
“You see? No one believes you.”
Evelyn carried Lily toward the service door.
It opened before she reached it.
A young maid stood there, pale and frightened.
“Mrs. Hart,” she whispered, “there is someone on the kitchen telephone asking for you.”
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“Who?”
“She said her name is Mara Quinn.”
