Chapter 5 - THE ROOM BELOW THE HOUSE
The basement smelled of damp stone and old wood.
I had been down there many times as a child.
But never beyond the wine storage area.
The light at the end of the corridor flickered.
I held the compass tightly.
The needle wasn't pointing north.
It was pointing toward a wall.
I walked closer.
Nothing looked unusual.
Then I noticed a small engraving in the stone.
The same symbol from Lily's key.
I pressed the compass against it.
A hidden mechanism clicked.
The wall moved.
Behind it was a narrow passage.
Vanessa whispered:
"Daniel, don't."
I turned.
"Why?"
"Because I know what's down there."
"Then tell me."
She looked at Michael.
He nodded.
"Tell him."
Vanessa took a breath.
"A room."
"What kind of room?"
"Your father's private archive."
We entered.
Shelves lined every wall.
Files.
Boxes.
Photographs.
Documents.
And one large wooden chest.
I opened it.
Inside were dozens of envelopes.
The first carried my name.
The second carried Michael's.
The third carried Noah's.
My hands trembled as I opened mine.
Daniel, if you are reading this, Michael has returned.
I looked at my brother.
He lowered his eyes.
I continued.
You were never meant to know about him until you were thirty-eight.
I looked at the date.
It had been written before my father died.
Exactly as if he knew this day would come.
Michael was not abandoned because he was unwanted. He was hidden because he discovered Caldwell's crime.
I turned the page.
But Michael made one mistake. He trusted Vanessa.
I looked up.
Vanessa was crying.
"You knew."
"I was twenty-six."
"You worked with Caldwell."
"I was forced to."
"Why?"
"He had my brother."
The room went silent.
Michael stepped forward.
"He threatened her family."
Vanessa nodded.
"He told me if I didn't help him, they'd disappear."
I looked at her.
"And you agreed."
"I thought I could outsmart him."
"Could you?"
"No."
I looked back at the letter.
The next line stopped me.
The real danger is not Caldwell.
My eyes moved downward.
It is the person Caldwell has placed inside our family.
I read it again.
Someone inside our family.
I looked at Vanessa.
Then Michael.
Then Marcus.
"Who?"
No answer.
I continued reading.
I know you will suspect Vanessa. You should. But she is not the person you are looking for.
I froze.
If not Vanessa, then who?
The letter continued.
Look at the person who has had access to the children without anyone questioning them.
My mind immediately went to Mrs. Harper.
The housekeeper.
She had been with us for seven years.
She knew every room.
Every schedule.
Every routine.
She had access to the children.
I turned toward the door.
"Where is Mrs. Harper?"
Vanessa's face changed.
"Daniel..."
"What?"
"She was the one who told me Lily was on the rooftop."
My blood turned cold.
"How did she know?"
Vanessa whispered:
"Because she was the person who sent me there."
May you like
We heard footsteps above us.
Then Lily screamed.
