Chapter 10 - The Child Who Remembered Everything|
Marcus arrived home twenty minutes later.
Norah told him what she had heard.
He didn't interrupt.
When she finished, he looked toward his mother.
"Is it true?"
Vivien sat in the library.
Her face had become pale.
"I never wanted Lily involved."
"But you knew she witnessed something."
"I knew she saw the aftermath."
"That's not what I asked."
Vivien closed her eyes.
Then she told them.
On the night of the accident, Evelyn had called her.
She said she had discovered irregularities in the family accounts and intended to take Lily somewhere safe.
Vivien had begged her to wait.
She promised to arrange a private meeting.
But Evelyn refused.
She believed Marcus's father had been using the family business to move money belonging to several legitimate investors.
Vivien had known about the transfers.
She had not known every detail.
She also knew that Richard Voss was dangerous.
So she contacted Peter.
Her intention, she claimed, was to bring Evelyn back to the estate and prevent her from exposing the family.
But Peter had taken matters into his own hands.
When the accident happened, Vivien arrived at the hospital before Marcus.
She found Lily sitting alone beside a nurse.
The child was shaking.
She had heard the crash.
She had seen Peter standing beside her mother's car.
And she had heard Vivien telling him to leave.
Vivien had been terrified that Lily would identify him.
So she arranged for Dr. Harlan to treat the child.
She told herself that medication and isolation would protect Lily from painful memories.
Instead, she had helped bury them.
Marcus stood in disbelief.
"You allowed my daughter to spend a year believing she couldn't trust anyone."
Vivien began crying.
"I thought she would forget."
"She was three years old."
"I know."
"You were supposed to protect her."
Vivien lowered her head.
Norah looked toward Lily.
The little girl had been listening from the doorway.
She slowly approached her grandmother.
Vivien reached out.
"Lily, sweetheart—"
Lily stepped backward.
The movement broke something in Vivien's expression.
Marcus turned away.
"You're leaving this house."
Vivien looked up.
"Marcus."
"Until the investigation is finished, you will have no contact with Lily."
"Please."
"You had eleven months to tell the truth."
Norah took Lily's hand.
The child looked up at her.
Then she spoke again.
"Mommy said..."
Norah knelt.
"What did Mommy say?"
Lily struggled.
Her lips trembled.
"Mommy said... find the blue room."
Marcus froze.
"The blue room?"
Norah looked at him.
"Do you know what she means?"
He nodded slowly.
His father had owned an old estate outside the city.
There was a blue study in the basement, a room that had been sealed after his death.
"There's something there," Marcus said.
Daniel immediately advised against entering without authorities.
But before they could arrange it, Raymond called.
"Mr. Ellery, we have a problem."
"What?"
"The old estate is on fire."
Marcus stared at the phone.
"How long?"
"Ten minutes ago."
Norah felt Lily's hand tighten around hers.
May you like
The little girl whispered:
"Mommy's book."
