Chapter 5 - THE SEVENTEENTH DOOR
The seventeenth door was not in the mansion.
Clara discovered that three days later.
She was helping Arthur inventory the estate's old storage buildings when she noticed a row of numbered doors beneath the carriage house.
The rooms had once been used for wine storage.
Now most were empty.
The numbers were painted above the locks.
Thirteen.
Fourteen.
Fifteen.
Sixteen.
Seventeen.
Clara stopped.
Her heart hammered.
Arthur looked back.
“Something wrong?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
But she could barely breathe.
***
That evening, she returned alone.
The carriage house stood behind the gardens.
Its windows were dark.
Clara carried a flashlight.
She approached door seventeen.
Inserted the brass key.
It turned.
The lock clicked.
She opened the door.
Inside was a narrow storage room.
Dust covered the shelves.
Old crates lined the walls.
A single wooden cabinet stood in the corner.
Clara approached.
On top lay a faded envelope.
Her mother's handwriting.
For Clara, if she ever comes looking.
Clara's knees weakened.
She opened it.
Inside was a letter.
My darling girl,
If you are reading this, then I have failed to keep the past away from you.
I wanted you to have an ordinary life.
I wanted you to bake pies and fall in love and never know what men like Richard Costello were capable of.
But if the truth has found you, remember this: I did not steal from that family.
I took something far more dangerous.
Clara's hands shook.
She continued reading.
I took proof.
***
Beneath the letter was a small metal box.
Inside were photographs.
Bank records.
Copies of contracts.
And a leather-bound ledger.
Clara opened it.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
Properties.
The records described a network of illegal transactions involving Richard Costello and several business partners.
Some names were familiar.
Others were not.
One appeared repeatedly.
EDWARD KENSINGTON.
Victoria's father.
Clara stared.
Then found another name.
Samuel Voss.
The accountant who had visited her mother in Albany.
The ledger included a final entry dated two months before Joanne's death.
VOSS — CONTACT REESTABLISHED.
Clara felt cold.
Her mother had not been killed in a random accident.
At least, that possibility could no longer be ignored.
***
A sound came from outside.
Footsteps.
Clara froze.
The door moved.
A man's voice.
“Miss Hughes?”
Arthur.
Clara exhaled.
“I'm here.”
He entered.
Then saw the ledger.
His face went white.
“Oh, God.”
Clara stared.
“You know what this is.”
Arthur nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
She stepped back.
“Did you know where it was?”
He looked at her.
“No.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
Arthur swallowed.
“Because your mother hid that book to keep Damian alive.”
Clara stared.
“What?”
Arthur looked toward the door.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Richard Costello was planning to sacrifice his own son to protect the business.”
