Chapter 3 - THE LOCKED NURSERY
The brass key opened a room on the third floor.
Lucas had not entered it since Emily’s death.
It had once been Lily’s nursery.
After the funeral, Richard advised Lucas to lock the room until he was emotionally ready to face it.
Lucas now understood that Richard may have wanted the room sealed for another reason.
Dust covered the furniture.
A wooden cradle stood near the window.
Faded stars decorated the walls.
Lily stayed close to her father.
“This was my room?”
“Yes.”
Lucas struggled to speak.
“Your mother painted those stars.”
Margaret moved toward the bookcase.
She removed a collection of children’s stories and pressed a hidden switch.
A narrow panel opened behind the shelf.
Inside was a small metal case.
Lucas stared at Margaret.
“You knew this was here?”
“Emily showed me.”
“She said the key would reach you if she died.”
Lucas unlocked the case.
Inside were financial documents, photographs, and a digital recorder.
One photograph showed Emily speaking with Vanessa outside a hotel.
Vanessa appeared angry.
Another showed Richard meeting Vanessa in a parking garage.
The date was three weeks before Emily’s accident.
Lily picked up a photograph from the bottom of the case.
It showed her mother standing beside a red-haired woman.
“Who is she?”
Margaret’s face tightened.
“Vanessa’s sister.”
Lucas looked at the back.
A name was written there.
Sophia Cross.
Margaret explained that Sophia had worked as Emily’s personal assistant.
She disappeared the night Emily died.
Police believed she had stolen money and fled the country.
Emily believed otherwise.
She thought Sophia had discovered Richard’s scheme and tried to warn her.
Lucas activated the recorder.
Emily’s voice filled the room.
“Richard believes I found only the missing trust money.”
“He is wrong.”
“The payments are connected to illegal property purchases throughout the county.”
“He has been buying land through false companies and forcing families from their homes.”
A door creaked in the recording.
Emily lowered her voice.
“Vanessa is helping him.”
“She believes Richard will marry her once I am gone and Lucas is under his control.”
Lucas stopped the recording.
“That makes no sense.”
Margaret answered carefully.
“It does if marrying you was never Vanessa’s final goal.”
Lily pointed toward the open doorway.
“Daddy.”
A shadow moved in the hallway.
Lucas rushed outside.
No one was there.
But a white rose lay on the floor.
May you like
Wrapped around its stem was a note.
THE DEAD SHOULD STAY BURIED.
