Chapter 10 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH|
They escaped through the back garden just as the front door gave way.
Victor drove them to a safe apartment in Stamford. Dr. Shaw was taken to a separate location by Dominic's security team, but not before she handed Emma an old key and a second envelope.
“Your mother left these for you,” the doctor said. “I should have given them to you years ago.”
Emma held the envelope against her chest.
Inside was a photograph of her mother standing beside a woman with blond hair and a sharp, familiar smile.
Dominic stared at it.
“That's Catherine Vale.”
“Your mother?”
“My stepmother. Arthur married her after my mother died.”
Emma turned the photograph over.
The date was written in blue ink: OCTOBER 17 — THE NIGHT DANIEL DISAPPEARED.
Beneath it was another sentence.
SHE WAS THERE.
Dominic paced the room.
“Catherine told us she was in Boston that night.”
“Maybe she lied.”
“She had no reason to kill Daniel. She wasn't involved in the business.”
“Then why did my mother photograph her at the scene?”
Dominic stopped.
“Because Catherine was the person who brought Daniel to the meeting.”
Emma looked up.
“You knew?”
“I heard rumors years ago. Father said Catherine had been trying to negotiate a deal between Daniel and the family. He claimed the meeting went wrong.”
“And you believed him?”
“I was young. I wanted to believe there was still something decent left in my family.”
Emma softened slightly.
“You were a kid.”
“I was old enough to know better.”
He sat opposite her.
“My father taught me that guilt was a weakness other people could exploit. I spent years trying not to feel anything. It made me good at what I do.”
“And terrible at being human?”
A faint, reluctant smile appeared.
“Apparently.”
For a moment, the room felt almost ordinary.
Then Emma opened the second envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Emma, if Catherine is still alive, ask her about the blue room. She will tell you she has never heard of it. Don't believe her.
At the bottom, Margaret had written a phone number.
Emma called.
A woman answered after several rings.
“Hello?”
“I'm looking for Catherine Vale.”
“Who is this?”
“My name is Emma Hayes. My mother was Margaret Hayes.”
Silence.
Then the woman whispered, “I wondered when you'd find me.”
Emma's stomach tightened.
“You knew my mother?”
“I knew her very well.”
“Then tell me about the blue room.”
The line went quiet.
When Catherine finally spoke, her voice sounded strained.
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“Because if you've found that photograph, you're in danger.”
“From whom?”
“From the man who has been protecting you.”
Emma looked at Dominic.
Catherine continued.
“Your mother didn't trust Arthur Vale. She didn't trust Anthony. And in the end, she didn't trust Dominic, either.”
Dominic reached for the phone.
Emma pulled it away.
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because the blue room is inside Dominic's house.”
Catherine's voice dropped to a whisper.
“And your mother's final message is still hidden there.”
The call ended.
Emma stared at Dominic.
He looked as stunned as she felt.
May you like
“My house doesn't have a blue room,” he said.
“Then someone has been hiding a room from you.”
