Chapter 3 - The Locked Blue Room
The Mercer family home stood on twelve acres behind iron gates.
Daniel had grown up there, but after Anna’s death, the house no longer felt like home. Its marble corridors held too many unfinished conversations and too many doors that Eleanor believed should remain closed.
Saturday morning arrived beneath a clear sky.
Daniel considered canceling the visit.
Then he received a photograph from the unknown number.
It showed a blue wooden box on Eleanor’s dressing table. Anna’s name was engraved inside the lid.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
The key opens more than the box.
Daniel enlarged the image.
A white envelope was visible beneath the box. Two words had been written across it.
For Lily.
He saved the photograph and forwarded it to his security director.
Then he placed the silver key in the inside pocket of his jacket.
When he and Lily arrived at the estate, colorful balloons had been tied along the front steps. Children ran through the garden while musicians prepared near the patio.
Rebecca greeted them at the door in her royal blue dress.
She kissed Daniel’s cheek.
She did not greet Lily.
Instead, she looked at the pale pink dress Lily was wearing.
“That was supposed to be Sophie’s color.”
Lily glanced down at herself.
“The invitation said pink.”
“It said pastel colors. Sophie chose pink.”
Daniel moved Lily gently behind him.
“She’s eight years old, Rebecca.”
“And Sophie is ten. Today should be about her.”
“It will be.”
Rebecca’s eyes moved to Daniel’s jacket.
“Did you bring the key?”
“Did you tell Mother about it?”
Rebecca’s smile faded.
“She already knows.”
Eleanor appeared at the top of the staircase.
Her silver dress caught the light from the chandeliers. The diamond brooch at her collar had belonged to Daniel’s grandmother.
“Daniel,” she said warmly. “You came.”
Her eyes shifted toward Lily.
“And you brought Anna’s daughter.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“My daughter.”
Eleanor descended the stairs.
“Of course.”
She leaned down as though to kiss Lily, but Lily stepped backward.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed.
“Have you forgotten your manners?”
“She hasn’t forgotten anything,” Daniel said.
Rebecca quickly laughed.
“Let’s not start the afternoon with tension.”
Sophie ran into the hallway wearing a white dress with a bright pink sash.
She hugged Lily.
“You came.”
Lily handed her the scrapbook.
Sophie looked genuinely happy.
Rebecca took it before she could open it.
“Gifts go on the table.”
Sophie’s smile disappeared.
Daniel watched his niece carefully. She looked exhausted. A faint bruise showed near her wrist beneath a bracelet.
Before Daniel could ask about it, Eleanor placed a hand on his arm.
“We should speak privately.”
“About Anna’s box?”
For the first time, Eleanor’s expression broke.
Rebecca glanced toward the guests.
“Not here,” she whispered.
Eleanor recovered quickly.
“I don’t know what story Sophie has invented, but she has developed a habit of entering rooms without permission.”
“She found a box with Anna’s name.”
“Many things in this house belonged to your wife.”
“You told me nothing remained here.”
“I may have overlooked something.”
Daniel held Eleanor’s gaze.
“Where is it?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Where?”
Eleanor smiled at a passing guest.
“This is neither the time nor the place.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“You had five years to choose a time.”
Eleanor’s smile remained in place.
“You sound exactly like your father when you are angry.”
“My father told the truth.”
Eleanor’s eyes became cold.
“Your father left you with a company on the edge of collapse and a trust filled with impossible conditions.”
“He also left me controlling authority.”
“Authority you have barely used.”
“That can change.”
Eleanor studied him.
Rebecca interrupted by announcing that the magician had arrived.
As the guests moved toward the garden, Sophie pulled Lily behind a flower arrangement.
Daniel saw them whispering.
Then Sophie pointed toward the western staircase.
Daniel followed their gaze.
At the top of the stairs stood a blue door.
It had once led to Anna’s private reading room.
After the funeral, Eleanor had locked it.
Daniel had not seen it open in five years.
He looked toward his mother.
Eleanor was watching the children.
Her hand tightened around her wineglass.
Sophie slipped something into Lily’s palm.
A folded piece of paper.
Lily opened it beneath the table.
Daniel could not read the entire message, but he saw the final sentence.
May you like
Meet me in the blue room before the candles.
Then Eleanor started walking toward them.
