Chapter 3 - THE MAID WITH THE MISSING YEARS
Nora Hayes had grown up in Queens.
Her mother worked as a seamstress.
Her father repaired elevators.
They were never wealthy.
But they had been happy.
Then her father disappeared when she was fourteen.
Police found his car near the waterfront.
No body.
No witnesses.
No answers.
Her mother spent years searching.
Eventually, grief became illness.
Nora left school early to work.
She cleaned houses.
Waited tables.
And took whatever jobs paid enough to keep the lights on.
But she never stopped asking questions.
Her father's name was Michael Hayes.
And the last job he had worked involved a private elevator installation at the Russo estate.
Nora had never told Vincent.
Not because she intended to deceive him.
Because she wasn't sure the connection meant anything.
Until she saw an old photograph in Camila's room.
Thomas Russo.
Standing beside Michael Hayes.
Nora recognized her father immediately.
Her hands began trembling.
Camila noticed.
“Sweetheart?”
Nora looked up.
“Who is that man?”
Camila smiled.
“Thomas.”
Nora pointed to the second man.
“And him?”
Camila's smile disappeared.
For a moment, her eyes cleared.
Then she whispered:
“He went into the basement.”
Nora froze.
“What basement?”
Camila began shaking.
“The door.”
May you like
She gripped Nora's hand.
“The red door.”
