Chapter 7 - Maribel’s SecretMaribel did not answer immediately.
That frightened Leonard more than denial would have.
“Tell me.”
She looked toward Sadie.
“Not in front of her.”
Sadie sat straighter.
“I’m not a baby.”
Leonard almost smiled.
Almost.
But Maribel remained serious.
“This involves your mother.”
Sadie’s expression changed.
Leonard led Maribel into the hall.
Nora joined them.
“Now,” Leonard said.
Maribel clasped both hands.
“Eliza asked me to watch Dolores.”
Leonard stared.
“When?”
“Before she died.”
“How long before?”
“Maybe three months.”
“And you never told me?”
“She made me promise.”
Leonard’s anger rose.
Nora intervened.
“Let her explain.”
Maribel nodded gratefully.
“Eliza knew Dolores was meeting Gavin. She didn’t know why. She asked me whether I had seen him around the house.”
“Had you?”
“Yes.”
“How often?”
“More often than you knew.”
Leonard’s jaw tightened.
“Where?”
“The guesthouse. The basement corridor. Once in your study when you were in New York.”
“And you said nothing?”
“Eliza told me she was gathering proof.”
“What proof?”
“I didn’t know.”
Nora asked, “Did Eliza instruct you to record them?”
“No.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because two months ago, Dolores started meeting Gavin again.”
Maribel’s eyes moved to Leonard.
“And because I received something.”
“What?”
“A voicemail.”
“From whom?”
“Eliza.”
Leonard stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“No. It was recorded before she died.”
Maribel pulled out her phone.
“It came from a scheduled email account. There was an audio file.”
Leonard took the phone.
The recording began.
Eliza’s voice filled the hallway.
Weak.
But unmistakable.
“Maribel, if this reached you, something I was worried about has started happening again.”
Leonard shut his eyes.
Sadie’s mother continued.
“I’m asking you for something unfair. Watch Sadie. Watch my mother. And if Dolores starts meeting Gavin again, document it. Don’t confront her. Give anything you find to Nora.”
The message ended.
Leonard opened his eyes.
“Why didn’t you give the video to Nora immediately?”
Maribel looked ashamed.
“I was afraid.”
“Of Dolores?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Of losing my job.”
Leonard absorbed that.
Maribel had worked at the mansion for nine years.
She supported her mother and younger sister.
Fear did not make her dishonest.
It made her human.
“When were you going to tell me?”
“I don’t know.”
“That isn't good enough.”
“I know.”
Nora said gently, “But she did intervene when Sadie was in immediate danger.”
Leonard looked at Maribel.
“I am angry you waited.”
“I understand.”
“But I am not angry you recorded it.”
Maribel nodded.
“There’s more.”
Leonard almost laughed from exhaustion.
“Of course there is.”
“Eliza gave me a key.”
“What key?”
“I don’t know.”
Maribel reached under her collar and pulled out a thin chain.
A small brass key hung from it.
“She told me never to use it unless Sadie was in danger or you stopped being able to protect her.”
Leonard stared at it.
“Do you know what it opens?”
“No.”
Nora leaned closer.
“There’s a number.”
Tiny digits were engraved near the base.
Nora read them.
“314.”
Leonard knew immediately.
He turned toward the elevators.
“Safe-deposit box.”
“Where?”
“First Commonwealth Bank.”
“How do you know?”
“My father used boxes there. The keys were stamped like that.”
Nora checked her phone.
“There are three branches.”
Leonard shook his head.
“The original downtown branch.”
Sadie was discharged later that afternoon.
They did not return to the mansion.
Leonard checked them into a private suite at a hotel owned by Ashcroft Hospitality, with security and adjoining rooms for Maribel and Nora.
Sadie objected.
“I want my room.”
“I know.”
“And Mom’s things.”
“We’ll get them.”
“Grandma doesn’t get to keep the house.”
Leonard looked at her.
“No.”
“Then why are we leaving?”
“Because right now I care more about where you feel safe than proving who owns what.”
Sadie thought.
Then nodded.
Before bed, Leonard told her about the key.
“Mom left it?”
“It seems so.”
“What’s in the box?”
“We’ll find out tomorrow.”
Sadie pulled the blanket closer.
“Do you think it’s why Grandma was scared?”
“I don’t know.”
“What if it’s worse than everything?”
Leonard sat beside her.
“Then we deal with worse.”
She studied him.
“Together?”
The word nearly undid him.
“Together.”
At 7:30 the next morning, Leonard, Nora, Maribel, and Sadie entered First Commonwealth Bank.
The manager verified the key number.
Then frowned at his computer.
“There is a problem.”
“What?”
“Box 314 is registered to Eliza Ashcroft.”
Leonard nodded.
“She’s deceased.”
“I understand.”
“I’m executor of her estate.”
The manager looked uncomfortable.
“That isn’t the problem.”
“Then what is?”
He turned the monitor slightly.
“Someone accessed this box eleven days ago.”
Leonard stopped.
“Who?”
The manager pointed to the authorization record.
A name appeared.
Dolores Ashcroft.
Maribel whispered, “How?”
Nora leaned toward the screen.
“With a power of attorney?”
The manager shook his head.
“No.”
“Then what?”
He looked at Leonard.
“She presented a court-certified document naming her personal representative for Eliza’s estate.”
Nora’s face changed.
“That document does not exist.”
May you like
The manager swallowed.
“Then somebody gave us a very convincing forgery.”
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