Chapter 7 - THE HOUSEKEEPER WHO GUARDED A SECRET
Margaret Sloane had worked for the Moretti family for twenty years.
She knew every room.
Every schedule.
Every visitor.
And every family secret.
Now Vincent understood why she'd tried so desperately to keep Evelyn out of the mansion.
Evelyn wasn't simply a poor woman looking for work.
She was connected to Catherine Gallagher.
And Catherine had helped Isabella disappear.
Vincent contacted his attorney and provided Sophia's letter to investigators.
Margaret's financial records were examined.
Several payments linked her to an organization controlled by Leonard Bianchi, his father's former attorney.
The amounts were substantial.
And they continued long after Isabella vanished.
Evelyn stared at the documents.
"She was being paid to watch us."
Vincent nodded.
"That's what the records suggest."
"Why?"
"Because someone believed Catherine had information they wanted."
Evelyn looked down.
"And now they think I have it."
Vincent's expression softened.
"You do have something."
She looked up.
"Your mother's courage."
Evelyn smiled sadly.
"That won't stop dangerous people."
"No," Vincent admitted.
"But the evidence we're finding may."
Meanwhile, Vincent's daughters continued growing closer to Evelyn.
Lily and Grace followed her through the mansion.
They helped her bake cookies.
Sat beside her during meals.
And laughed when she told funny stories.
One afternoon, Evelyn found Grace standing near the staircase.
The little girl held a photograph.
Sophia Moretti.
Their mother.
Evelyn knelt beside her.
"Sweetheart?"
Grace looked down.
Then whispered:
"Mommy."
Evelyn's heart tightened.
"Yes."
Grace pointed toward the photograph.
"Mommy said..."
She stopped.
Evelyn remained still.
"Take your time."
The little girl swallowed.
"Mommy said the bad lady would come."
Evelyn felt cold.
"What bad lady?"
Grace looked toward the hallway.
Then whispered:
"Margaret."
Evelyn stopped breathing.
"Margaret?"
Grace nodded.
Lily appeared beside her sister.
For the first time in fourteen months, Lily spoke too.
"Mommy was scared."
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Both girls.
Speaking.
Remembering.
She gently took their hands.
"What happened, sweethearts?"
Lily looked toward the stairs.
"Mommy was crying."
Grace whispered:
"Margaret was shouting."
Evelyn's heart pounded.
"When?"
Lily looked frightened.
"The night Mommy went away."
Evelyn stared.
Sophia's death had been ruled an accident.
But the girls remembered an argument.
An argument involving Margaret.
Evelyn immediately contacted Vincent.
He arrived moments later.
When Lily saw him, she ran into his arms.
"Daddy!"
Vincent froze.
For fourteen months, he had dreamed of hearing that word again.
Now his daughter was saying it.
He dropped to his knees.
"Lily?"
She hugged him tightly.
"Daddy."
Tears streamed down his face.
Grace joined them.
"Daddy."
Vincent held both girls.
For several minutes, he couldn't speak.
Then Evelyn gently explained what they'd remembered.
Vincent looked toward her.
His expression changed.
"Margaret argued with Sophia?"
Evelyn nodded.
"The girls remember it."
Vincent closed his eyes.
A terrible possibility formed.
Then his phone rang.
Detective Michael Brennan.
"Mr. Moretti, we've reviewed the records surrounding your wife's accident."
Vincent stood.
"What did you find?"
The detective hesitated.
"Her vehicle had been serviced shortly before the crash."
Vincent's stomach tightened.
"By whom?"
"A company owned by Leonard Bianchi."
Silence.
May you like
Then the detective added:
"We found evidence suggesting Sophia's brakes were deliberately tampered with."
