Chapter 4 - THE GIRL HE WAS FORCED TO FORGET
Arthur Costello had spent twenty years convincing himself he barely remembered Clara Hayes.
Now he sat beside me on the grand staircase, staring at her childhood photograph.
"She was my best friend," he whispered.
I looked down.
"My mother?"
He nodded.
"We grew up together."
"How?"
"Her father worked for my family."
"My grandfather?"
Arthur nodded.
"Yes."
I stared at the photograph.
Two children laughing beside a fountain.
Arthur couldn't have been older than ten.
Clara was younger.
Her hair fell in dark curls around her shoulders.
She looked happy.
Unafraid.
Nothing like the exhausted woman I remembered from my earliest childhood.
"What happened?"
Arthur swallowed.
"My father told me Clara's family moved away."
I looked toward Mrs. Whitcomb.
She lowered her eyes.
"That wasn't the truth."
Arthur turned.
"What was?"
Mrs. Whitcomb took a breath.
"Clara discovered something when she was seventeen."
My heart tightened.
"What?"
"Documents connected to the family accounts."
Arthur frowned.
"Why would she have access?"
"She helped Daniel with bookkeeping."
I looked down.
Mom had never told me.
Then Mrs. Whitcomb continued.
"She discovered evidence of fraud involving Victor Bellamy."
Arthur's expression hardened.
"Victor?"
She nodded.
"He was taking money from the family and blaming Daniel."
My stomach turned.
"My father was framed?"
Mrs. Whitcomb looked toward me.
"Yes."
Arthur closed his eyes.
For decades, Victor had been his family's most trusted legal adviser.
He handled property acquisitions.
Business contracts.
And sensitive disputes.
Now Mrs. Whitcomb was claiming he'd been stealing money for years.
Arthur stood.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Her eyes filled.
"Your father ordered everyone to remain silent."
"Why?"
"Because Victor threatened Clara."
My chest tightened.
"What kind of threat?"
Mrs. Whitcomb looked toward me.
Then whispered:
"He said he'd destroy Daniel's family."
Arthur's face darkened.
I felt sick.
My father had spent years protecting me.
Working late.
Paying bills.
Keeping us away from dangerous people.
And all along, he'd been carrying a secret about the Costellos.
Then Arthur looked toward me.
"Norah, there's something I need to ask."
I nodded.
"Did your father ever mention a storage locker?"
I thought carefully.
A memory returned.
Dad standing in our kitchen.
Holding a small metal box.
Telling me never to lose the key.
The same brass key Arthur had brought to my room.
My heart pounded.
"Yes."
Arthur leaned forward.
"Where?"
I swallowed.
"He said if anything happened to him, I should go to Union Station."
Arthur went still.
"Union Station?"
I nodded.
"Locker 47."
For the first time, Arthur looked hopeful.
Then Mrs. Whitcomb made a small sound.
We turned.
Her face was pale.
"That locker..."
Arthur frowned.
"What?"
She swallowed.
"Victor has been searching for it for years."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
Mrs. Whitcomb looked directly at me.
May you like
Then whispered:
"Because Daniel Hayes hid the original evidence proving Victor Bellamy murdered Arthur Costello's father."
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