Chapter 2 - THE PAINTING THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST
Adrien Belandi had faced armed rivals without blinking.
But one look at the painting made his hands tremble.
“Who put that there?”
The restaurant manager, Victor Sloane, hurried forward.
“It's been here for decades, Mr. Belandi.”
“Then explain why that woman looks like my wife.”
Victor glanced at the painting.
“It's probably a resemblance.”
Evelyn studied his face.
He was sweating.
And the restaurant was cold.
Lily buried her face against her brother Noah's shoulder.
Oliver stared at the fireplace, his expression strangely focused.
Evelyn noticed something else.
All three children were watching Victor.
Not their father.
Not the painting.
Victor.
“Maybe we should move somewhere quieter,” Evelyn suggested.
Adrien nodded immediately.
Victor stepped forward.
“I can arrange a private suite upstairs.”
“No,” Lily whispered.
The word was soft.
But unmistakable.
Evelyn looked at her.
“Would you rather stay here?”
Lily nodded.
Victor's smile disappeared.
Adrien turned toward him.
“Leave us.”
“Mr. Belandi—”
“Now.”
Victor withdrew.
Evelyn crouched beside the children again.
“You're safe to take your time.”
Noah reached beneath the table and pulled out a folded napkin.
He slid it toward her.
Evelyn unfolded it.
Inside was a drawing made with blue crayon.
Three children.
A woman.
A staircase.
And a black door with a red X.
Evelyn felt a chill.
“Did you draw this?”
Noah nodded.
Then Oliver pointed to the staircase.
He tapped it three times.
Adrien watched, speechless.
Evelyn looked toward the service hallway.
“Is that staircase in this building?”
The boys exchanged frightened glances.
Lily slowly nodded.
Adrien turned toward his security chief.
“Find out what's beneath this restaurant.”
The man hurried away.
Evelyn started to fold the drawing.
But something written in tiny letters along the bottom caught her eye.
The handwriting was too neat for a young child.
If they remember the cellar, they'll remember what happened to Celeste.
Evelyn looked up.
“Who gave you this?”
Noah's lips moved.
No sound came.
Then he pointed toward the restaurant's darkened kitchen.
Evelyn followed his finger.
Through the glass window, she saw Victor Sloane speaking urgently into his phone.
May you like
And she heard him say:
“The girl has started talking. We need to move her mother tonight.”
