Chapter 13 - The Key Eleanor Never Gave Away
The red box contained a key.
Nothing else.
At least that was what Celeste claimed.
They returned home to find three police cars outside.
A rear window had been broken.
The security footage showed a person in dark clothing entering at eight forty-three.
Face covered.
Gloves.
No identifiable vehicle.
The intruder went directly to Eleanor's old desk.
No searching.
No hesitation.
They knew exactly where the box was.
Audrey watched the footage twice.
Then a third time.
Ethan stood behind her.
"Someone told them."
"Or they've been inside before."
Celeste sat near the fireplace.
Vivian held Nora.
Marianne had come too despite Ethan telling her not to.
Nobody wanted to be alone anymore.
Audrey paused the footage.
"Look."
Ethan leaned closer.
"What?"
"The intruder's left leg."
They watched.
A slight limp.
Marianne whispered, "Robert."
Everyone turned.
"You think that's Robert?" Ethan asked.
"No."
"Then who?"
Marianne looked shaken.
"I haven't seen that walk in years."
"Who?"
She swallowed.
"Thomas."
Vivian stared at her.
"Dad is dead."
"I know."
"Then what are you saying?"
"I'm saying the person walks like him."
Ethan exhaled sharply.
"That's not evidence."
"No."
Marianne moved closer to the screen.
"But Thomas injured his left knee in college. He always shortened that step."
Vivian folded her arms.
"Lots of people limp."
Marianne nodded.
"Yes."
Audrey looked at Celeste.
"What key was in the box?"
Celeste did not answer.
"Celeste."
"A railway locker key."
"What railway station?"
"Hawthorne Central."
Ethan frowned.
"That station was demolished."
"The old storage wing wasn't."
Audrey understood.
"Eleanor hid something there."
Celeste nodded.
"What?"
"I never knew."
"How did she get the key?"
"Thomas gave it to her."
"When?"
"The day Michael died."
Audrey's skin prickled.
Celeste continued.
"Thomas disappeared for seven hours after the crash. When he returned, he gave Eleanor the key and told her never to use it unless someone came looking for Audrey."
"Did someone?"
"Apparently."
Audrey looked at the broken window.
"Tonight."
Marianne sat down slowly.
"No."
"What?"
She shook her head.
"They weren't looking for Audrey."
"How do you know?"
"Because if they were, they would have gone upstairs."
Audrey looked toward the nursery.
A terrible thought formed.
"The key."
Marianne nodded.
"They're looking for whatever Thomas hid."
Ethan's attorney entered from the hallway.
"I've spoken with the detective."
Everyone turned.
"He strongly recommends nobody leave tonight."
Audrey looked at Ethan.
He knew instantly what she was thinking.
"No."
"The locker."
"No."
"If somebody stole the key, they're going there."
"Exactly why you're not."
"We can tell the police."
"We will."
Celeste stood.
"The police won't find it."
Ethan looked at her.
"Why?"
"The key isn't enough."
Audrey frowned.
"What else?"
Celeste reached beneath her blouse and removed a thin chain.
On it hung a small silver medallion.
She twisted the edge.
The medallion opened.
Inside was a narrow strip of paper.
Four numbers.
714.
Celeste looked at Audrey.
"Eleanor gave me this before she died."
"Locker number?"
"No."
"What is it?"
"The combination."
Ethan laughed without humor.
"Of course it is."
Audrey looked at the clock.
Nine twenty-six.
Someone already had the key.
They had the combination.
The old railway storage building was twenty-five minutes away.
Audrey knew Ethan would try to stop her.
So she did what she had done at the storage unit.
She let him think he had won.
At ten fifteen, everyone settled into separate rooms.
At ten thirty, police patrol passed the house.
At ten forty-two, Ethan checked on Nora.
At ten forty-five, Audrey slipped through the laundry room door.
She reached her car.
Opened it.
Ethan sat in the passenger seat.
Audrey almost screamed.
He looked at her.
"Really?"
She closed her eyes.
"How?"
"I married you."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"It explains everything."
He held up the medallion.
Audrey stared.
"Celeste gave you that?"
"No."
Celeste stepped from the shadows near the garage.
"She gave it to me."
Audrey sighed.
"This family is exhausting."
Marianne's voice came from behind them.
"For once, we agree."
Audrey turned.
Marianne stood beside Vivian.
"Absolutely not."
Vivian held up the stolen railway key.
Everyone stared.
"Where did you get that?"
May you like
Vivian smiled faintly.
"From the person who broke into the house."
