Chapter 4 - The Empty Cake Table
Daniel finished placing five candles on the cake.
“Where’s Lily?”
The children gathered around the table looked at one another.
One girl pointed toward the hallway.
“She went to find her clip.”
Daniel searched the dining room first.
The cabinet stood open and empty.
He found the blue hair clip near the door, but no Lily.
He checked the bathroom, the guest room, and the family room. He called her name without raising his voice, not wanting to frighten her if she was hiding from the noise.
Rebecca appeared beside the staircase.
“Something wrong?”
“Have you seen Lily?”
“No.”
Linda came from the kitchen carrying plates.
“She was with the children.”
“She isn’t now.”
“She probably went upstairs.”
Daniel started toward the stairs.
Linda stepped into his path.
“I’ll check. You should stay with the guests.”
“My daughter is missing.”
“She is inside the house.”
“Then where is she?”
Robert entered the hallway.
“What’s happening?”
“Lily is missing.”
Robert frowned.
“She can’t have gone far.”
Daniel checked the front door. It was still locked from inside. He moved toward the back of the house and inspected the patio.
Nothing.
The soft concern in the living room began to grow. Parents called their own children closer. Guests opened doors and looked behind curtains.
Daniel returned to the hallway.
Rebecca leaned against the wall.
“She might be hiding because of the tantrum.”
Daniel stopped.
“What tantrum?”
Rebecca blinked.
“The one she had earlier.”
“She didn’t have a tantrum.”
“She was upset near the dining room.”
“When?”
Rebecca looked toward Linda.
“Not long ago.”
Daniel’s voice became quieter.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It didn’t seem important.”
“My child was upset, and you decided it wasn’t important?”
Linda placed the plates on a table.
“Daniel, Rebecca is trying to help.”
“No one is helping. Where is Lily?”
He called again.
This time, a faint sound came from the far end of the hallway.
“Daddy?”
Daniel ran toward the laundry room.
Linda moved quickly behind him.
“Wait.”
The door was locked.
Daniel grabbed the handle.
“Lily?”
“Daddy, I’m here.”
His relief lasted less than a second before anger replaced it.
“Step away from the door, sweetheart.”
“It’s dark.”
“I know. I’m opening it.”
The key was not in the lock.
Daniel turned.
“Where is the key?”
Linda shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Rebecca stared at the floor.
“Where is the key?” Daniel repeated.
Robert went to a small drawer beside the kitchen and returned with a spare. His hands were unsteady.
Daniel unlocked the door.
Lily sat on the floor beside the washing machine. One white shoe was missing. She held her knees against her chest.
Daniel entered slowly.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
She looked up.
The moment she recognized him, her shoulders lowered.
Daniel crouched several feet away, giving her space.
“Can I come closer?”
Lily nodded.
He wrapped his jacket around her and lifted her carefully.
“You’re safe.”
“Grandma said I had to be quiet.”
Daniel carried her into the hallway.
Every guest was watching.
Linda raised her hands.
“This is being misunderstood.”
Daniel ignored her.
He sat against the hallway wall with Lily beside him.
“Did someone put you inside?”
Lily looked toward Rebecca.
Rebecca answered first.
“She went in during a tantrum.”
Daniel’s head turned.
“You just said you hadn’t seen her.”
“I meant I hadn’t seen where she went afterward.”
“You said she might be hiding.”
“She was.”
Lily whispered, “She closed the door.”
Rebecca’s face tightened.
“You were kicking and shouting.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Children don’t always remember accurately.”
Daniel looked at his sister.
“Stop talking.”
Rebecca stared at him.
“You don’t get to order me around.”
“Stop talking about my daughter as though she isn’t sitting here.”
Linda stepped closer.
“She needs to apologize for frightening everyone.”
Daniel felt Lily go still.
“For being locked in a room?”
“For wandering away and creating panic.”
Daniel’s disbelief showed on his face.
Lily looked down.
“Daddy, do I have to say sorry?”
“No, sweetheart. You did nothing wrong.”
Rebecca crossed her arms.
“She fell during a tantrum.”
Daniel noticed the glimmer inside Lily’s sleeve.
He removed the green stone.
Rebecca covered her bracelet.
The lie collapsed almost instantly.
When Lily revealed that Linda had ordered Rebecca to hide her, Robert opened the laundry room and found the shoe and torn fabric.
Then Lily mentioned the papers.
Robert demanded the blue bag.
Linda tried to move toward the stairs, but Daniel blocked the hallway without touching her.
“No one leaves until we know what is happening.”
“You cannot hold us here,” Linda said.
“I’m not holding anyone. I’m protecting Lily and preserving whatever evidence is in that room.”
Rebecca laughed nervously.
“Evidence? You’re turning a family disagreement into a crime.”
Robert entered the laundry room.
He removed towels from the shelf and found the blue bag.
Linda’s expression emptied.
Robert carried it into the living room and placed it on the cake table.
The five candles waited beside it.
He unzipped the bag.
Inside were the unsigned transition documents, several property records, a medical letter carrying Robert’s name, and an envelope labeled Emily Carter Investment Agreement.
Daniel stared at the handwriting.
May you like
He recognized it immediately.
It belonged to his late wife.
