Chapter 3 - THE LITTLE GIRL WHO NOTICED EVERYTHING
Lucy Dawson was eating cereal when Adrian entered the kitchen.
She looked up.
“Good morning, Mr. Vale.”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“Good morning, Lucy.”
Claire stood beside the counter.
Her expression immediately tightened.
“Mr. Vale, I'm sorry. I was going to take her upstairs.”
Adrian shook his head.
“She's fine.”
Lucy held up her spoon.
“Do you like cereal?”
“Sometimes.”
She considered.
“Do you like marshmallows?”
“Not particularly.”
She looked horrified.
“That's sad.”
Adrian almost laughed.
Claire looked between them.
“Lucy.”
The little girl ignored her.
“Did you find yourself?”
Adrian went still.
Claire closed her eyes.
“Sweetheart—”
Adrian crouched.
“Not yet.”
Lucy nodded seriously.
“Maybe you're hiding.”
He looked at her.
“Maybe.”
She pointed toward the hallway.
“The mirror man is scary.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“Why?”
Lucy shrugged.
“He doesn't smile when you smile.”
Silence.
Adrian stared.
“What do you mean?”
She frowned.
“Sometimes he moves after you.”
Adrian felt a cold sensation move through him.
A delay.
A recording.
Or something else.
He looked toward Claire.
May you like
She was pale.
And for the first time, Adrian wondered whether the housekeeper knew more than she'd told him.
