Chapter 13 - The Woman Who Knew Too Much|
Mrs. Hargrove was waiting outside Noah's bedroom when we returned to the mansion.
Her gray hair was pinned perfectly.
Her pearl brooch gleamed beneath the hallway lights.
But something about her expression had changed.
She looked frightened.
“Miss Reed,” she whispered.
“Can we speak privately?”
I glanced toward Dominic.
He nodded.
We stepped into the laundry room.
Mrs. Hargrove closed the door.
Then she began crying.
For six years, I had never seen that woman shed a tear.
“Clara, I need you to understand something.”
I folded my arms.
“Then tell me.”
She wiped her cheeks.
“Mr. Bell has been threatening me.”
My stomach tightened.
“Marcus?”
She nodded.
“He knows things about my daughter. Things that could ruin her life.”
“What things?”
“She was arrested last year for something she didn't do. Marcus arranged for the charges to be dropped.”
Her voice broke.
“Then he told me I owed him.”
I stared at her.
“What did he make you do?”
Mrs. Hargrove looked toward the door.
“He ordered me to keep Noah away from certain rooms.”
“The north wing.”
She nodded.
“He also made me change the staff schedules whenever Dr. Kessler visited.”
I swallowed.
“Why?”
“So nobody would see the treatments.”
The room seemed to tilt.
“What treatments?”
“I never went inside.”
“Mrs. Hargrove.”
She looked at me desperately.
“I swear I didn't know they were frightening him.”
I felt anger rising through my chest.
“You watched that little boy suffer for two years.”
Her face crumpled.
“I know.”
“You watched everyone blame him!”
“I know!”
She covered her mouth.
Then whispered:
“I tried to stop it.”
I stared at her.
“How?”
“Six months ago, I entered the north wing after hearing Noah screaming.”
“What happened?”
“Dr. Kessler told me it was therapeutic exposure. He said the room was designed to help Noah face his memories.”
Her hands trembled.
“But Noah was begging for his mother.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“Did you tell Dominic?”
“I tried.”
“What happened?”
“Marcus intercepted the message.”
She reached into her pocket.
A small brass key lay in her palm.
“I kept this.”
“What does it open?”
“The old blue room.”
I stared.
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“Because I can't live with what I've helped them do.”
Suddenly, the laundry room door opened.
Dominic stood there.
He had heard enough.
Mrs. Hargrove's face drained of color.
“Mr. Vale…”
Dominic looked at the key.
Then at her.
“You're going to tell the investigators everything.”
She nodded through her tears.
“I will.”
His jaw tightened.
“And after that, you will never again conceal anything affecting my son's safety.”
Mrs. Hargrove bowed her head.
“Yes, sir.”
Dominic took the key.
Then looked toward the staircase.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Finally, he spoke.
“Clara.”
“Yes?”
“I'm going into that room.”
I swallowed.
“And Noah?”
Dominic's expression softened.
“He stays somewhere safe.”
May you like
Then he looked directly at me.
“Because whatever is behind that door, I refuse to let him face it again.”
