Chapter 3 - THE HOUSEKEEPER WHO HAD NOTHING TO HIDE
Claire Carter had worked at Ravenwood for four years.
She was twenty-nine.
A single mother.
Quiet.
Efficient.
And far more observant than most of the people I employed.
She lived in a small cottage on the eastern edge of the estate with Emma.
Her husband had died in a construction accident when Emma was eleven months old.
Claire rarely spoke about him.
But every Sunday, she placed fresh flowers beside his photograph.
I found her in the laundry room the following morning.
She was folding white towels.
When I entered, she stood immediately.
“Mr. DeLuca.”
“Claire.”
She looked concerned.
“Is something wrong?”
I closed the door.
“Emma told me something yesterday.”
Claire's face drained.
“Oh, no.”
I frowned.
“What?”
She clasped her hands.
“Was she playing near your study again? I told her that hallway was off-limits.”
“That's not the problem.”
Claire looked at me.
I lowered my voice.
“Emma saw Vivien inside my study.”
Claire froze.
Then looked toward the door.
“Mr. DeLuca, I don't want trouble.”
“I know.”
She swallowed.
“Miss Rossi doesn't like Emma being in the main house.”
“Why?”
Claire hesitated.
“She says children don't belong around important guests.”
I felt anger rise.
“And?”
Claire looked down.
“She told me last week that after the wedding, the staff arrangements would change.”
“What kind of changes?”
“She said I should start looking for another place to live.”
I stared at her.
“Did she say why?”
Claire's eyes filled.
“She said Emma was becoming a nuisance.”
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Emma was three.
She liked stuffed animals, apple juice, and drawing pictures of houses with enormous yellow suns.
The idea that she was a nuisance was absurd.
“Claire,” I said, “you and Emma are not losing your home.”
She looked at me.
“Sir?”
“I mean it.”
Her shoulders sagged with relief.
Then she whispered something that changed the conversation.
“Miss Rossi asked me about the safe last month.”
I went still.
“What did she ask?”
May you like
Claire looked frightened.
“She wanted to know whether you ever changed the code.”
