Chapter 7 - Daniel’s Lie
Clara lowered her eyes.
Arthur answered first.
“Miss Clara wanted her mother’s photograph.”
Daniel looked at the open compartment.
“With a key?”
Arthur remained silent.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Give me whatever you found.”
“We found a letter.”
Clara held up the envelope.
Daniel grabbed it.
He read Evelyn’s handwriting.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get the key?”
Clara shrugged.
“In Mommy’s jewelry box.”
Daniel stared at her.
He knew she was lying.
Vanessa arrived moments later.
Her wedding hairstyle was still intact, but her expression no longer resembled a bride’s.
She searched the room.
Then she saw the laptop.
“What was on it?”
Arthur answered.
“Nothing.”
Vanessa turned toward Daniel.
“The camera.”
Daniel immediately opened his phone.
The security recording showed Arthur and Clara entering.
But the camera did not capture the laptop screen.
Daniel searched Clara’s pockets himself.
Nothing.
Then Vanessa approached.
She knelt.
“Where is it?”
Clara looked at her.
“Where is what?”
Vanessa smiled coldly.
“The thing your mother left.”
Daniel interrupted.
“That’s enough.”
Vanessa stood.
“No, it isn’t.”
For the first time Clara saw tension between them.
Daniel wanted control.
Vanessa wanted certainty.
Daniel ordered Arthur suspended from duty.
“You’ll leave the property tonight.”
Clara grabbed Arthur’s hand.
“No.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“You don’t decide.”
“He stays.”
“Clara.”
“He was Mommy’s friend.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“So was Vanessa.”
Clara looked at him.
“Was she Mommy’s friend when you were kissing her?”
Silence.
Vanessa’s face went white.
Arthur stared at Clara.
Daniel’s expression changed completely.
“How do you know that?”
Clara realized her mistake.
Daniel grabbed her shoulders.
“Where did you see that?”
“Daniel,” Arthur warned.
Daniel released her.
Barely.
Clara began crying, but not because she was afraid.
She needed Daniel to believe she was still a confused child.
“I don’t know.”
Daniel studied her.
Finally he turned to Vanessa.
“Take Clara upstairs.”
Vanessa reached for her.
Clara pulled away.
“I can walk.”
That night Arthur packed a suitcase.
Before leaving, he hugged Clara at the front entrance.
Daniel watched.
Arthur whispered into Clara’s hair.
“Locker 317.”
Clara understood.
The key had another meaning.
Arthur left.
Daniel locked the front doors.
Then he changed the alarm codes.
At midnight, Clara heard her bedroom door open.
She pretended to sleep.
Daniel stood beside her bed for nearly a minute.
Then he whispered, “What do you remember?”
Clara remained still.
Daniel finally left.
After the door closed, Clara opened her eyes.
A shadow moved outside her window.
Someone was standing in the garden.
May you like
The figure lifted one hand.
A silver bird necklace hung from the fingers.
