Chapter 6 - THE LETTER HIDDEN BEHIND THE MIRROR
For a moment, I thought Vanessa was lying.
Then I saw Eleanor's face.
And I knew there was something she had never told either of us.
“Take Grant away?” I repeated.
Eleanor looked exhausted.
“Daniel believed Grant was in danger.”
Grant's voice was cold.
“I was twenty-nine when Daniel died. Nobody was taking me anywhere.”
“Not physically,” Eleanor said. “He wanted you out of your father's organization.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“How touching.”
Grant ignored her.
“Why?”
“Because Daniel discovered someone was preparing to frame you for financial crimes.”
Grant's jaw tightened.
“Who?”
“Charles Mercer.”
Vanessa looked away.
Eleanor continued.
“Thomas wanted to sever ties with Mercer. Daniel had the evidence to make that possible. But Mercer learned what they were planning.”
I stared at her.
“Then my father was killed because he was trying to help your family?”
Eleanor's eyes filled.
“Yes.”
The room seemed to tilt.
All those years, I had believed my father was simply a good man who loved dancing.
He had been a good man.
But he had also been brave.
Braver than I ever knew.
Grant looked toward Vanessa.
“Where is Mercer?”
She smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
Before Grant could respond, Victor entered.
“Sir, we found something in Vanessa's suite.”
He held up a small black device.
“A transmitter. It was connected to the estate's internal network.”
Grant stared at it.
“How long?”
“Possibly months.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Grant turned toward her.
“Our engagement is over.”
She laughed.
“You can't just—”
“I can.”
He removed the engagement ring from her finger.
Not roughly.
Not theatrically.
He simply held out his hand until she surrendered it.
Then he placed it on the table.
“You're leaving this estate under police supervision. Your attorneys can contact mine.”
Vanessa's expression turned vicious.
“You'll regret choosing that maid.”
Grant looked at me.
“I haven't chosen anyone.”
Then he faced Vanessa again.
“But I have decided not to marry a woman who threatens children.”
Her smile disappeared.
Later that night, Eleanor brought me to a small room on the third floor.
It had been closed for years.
Inside stood a full-length mirror.
Dust covered the furniture.
An old record player rested beside the window.
Eleanor pointed toward the mirror.
“Your father came here the night before he died.”
I approached it.
The frame was decorated with carved roses.
One rose had a tiny indentation.
The same shape as Victor's brass key.
My hands trembled.
I inserted the key.
A hidden compartment clicked open.
Inside lay a sealed envelope and a small cassette tape.
The envelope was addressed to me.
To my little girl, Emily.
I broke the seal.
May you like
The first sentence made me stop breathing.
“If you're reading this, the man responsible for my death is probably standing beside you.”
