Chapter 21 - the photograph taken tomorrowWhen Daniel returned home, Lily and Emma were asleep beside each other on the living-room sofa.
Claire handed him an envelope that had been pushed beneath the door.
Inside was a photograph of both girls standing beside the Mercer fountain.
On the back, someone had written:
TOMORROW, 2:00 P.M.
The photograph had not been taken in the past.
Lily was wearing the pajamas she had on now.
Emma still held the hospital band.
Nora examined the image.
“It could be digitally created.”
Emma woke when she heard the word fountain.
“The ring man said we have to finish the party.”
Claire’s face hardened.
“No one is taking either child anywhere.”
Daniel looked again at the photograph.
In the fountain’s reflection, a woman stood behind the photographer.
Rose.
She was holding up four fingers.
Four o’clock?
Four people?
Or the fourth room?
Daniel remembered the estate plans. Beneath the fountain were four maintenance chambers. One connected to an abandoned service tunnel leading outside the property.
Rose was telling them where she was being held.
At 1:40 the next afternoon, Daniel and Nathan entered the tunnel from the old gardener’s cottage.
At 1:58, music began above them.
The same birthday song that had played at Lily’s party.
At 2:00, the fountain pumps started.
A steel door opened inside the tunnel.
May you like
Rose stumbled through it.
Behind her stood Tessa, holding a gun.
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