Chapter 4 - The Key in Maria's RoomMaria had been in the Cole house for six years.
She had a small bedroom on the first floor near the laundry room, although she rarely slept there unless Richard and Vanessa hosted overnight guests.
The police searched it before sunset.
Maria stood in the hallway while Officer Harper opened drawers, checked beneath the bed, and photographed the contents of her small closet.
“You don't have to look at me like that,” Maria said.
Harper glanced over.
“Like what?”
“Like you're trying to decide whether I'm a monster.”
“I'm trying to decide what happened.”
“The boy told his father I saved him.”
“I heard.”
“Then why are you searching my room?”
“Because someone put a freezer key in your basket.”
Maria folded her arms.
“Someone.”
Harper looked at her.
“You have a theory?”
“Yes.”
“Vanessa?”
Maria didn't answer immediately.
Accusing an employer's wife of attempted murder without proof sounded exactly like what a guilty housekeeper might do.
Harper understood her hesitation.
“You think she planted it.”
“I think she knew Ethan was in the freezer before anyone told her.”
“How?”
“She came downstairs and immediately said I locked him inside.”
“Maybe she heard Richard shouting.”
“He never shouted that Ethan had been locked in.”
Harper made a note.
Maria continued.
“She also had a cut on her hand.”
“We collected a sample.”
“Does Richard know?”
“He knows blood was found.”
“Does Vanessa?”
Harper gave her a look.
Maria almost smiled.
“Right. You don't tell suspects everything.”
“I didn't call her a suspect.”
“You didn't need to.”
One of the officers entered carrying another evidence bag.
Maria recognized the object before he spoke.
A second brass key.
Her knees almost gave out.
“Where?”
The officer pointed toward the bedside table.
“In the back of the bottom drawer.”
Maria stared.
“No.”
Harper's eyes narrowed.
“I have never seen that key.”
“It's the same type.”
“Someone put it there.”
“Who has access to your room?”
“Anyone in this house.”
“Do you lock it?”
“Why would I?”
Harper sighed.
“Maria, you understand how this looks.”
“Yes.”
She looked at the key.
“Perfect.”
“What?”
“It looks perfect.”
Harper waited.
“Too perfect.”
Maria stepped closer.
“You find one key in the basket beside me. Then you search my bedroom and find another one.”
“That could mean you had two.”
“Or it could mean someone desperately wants you to believe I did.”
Harper's phone rang.
He stepped away.
Maria looked through the open doorway.
Her room had never felt like much, but it had been hers.
The photograph of her mother remained on the dresser.
Her books were stacked beside the lamp.
A cardigan hung over the chair.
Someone had entered this space and planted evidence.
The thought made her feel violated in a way she hadn't expected.
Harper returned.
“Ethan is awake.”
Maria's eyes widened.
“Is he okay?”
“Stable.”
“Did he say what happened?”
Harper studied her.
“He said you saved him.”
Maria's eyes filled.
She looked away.
Harper continued.
“He also mentioned something called a red phone.”
Maria turned back.
“What?”
“You know anything about that?”
“No.”
“Think.”
Maria did.
Then remembered something.
Three nights earlier.
She had entered Vanessa's dressing room to return a dry-cleaned blouse.
Vanessa had been standing near the window.
She jumped when Maria came in.
Not startled.
Terrified.
Then she shoved something into her handbag.
Maria had seen only a corner of it.
Bright red.
“I've seen it.”
Harper straightened.
“Where?”
“With Vanessa.”
“When?”
Maria explained.
Harper began typing into his phone.
Then footsteps sounded at the far end of the hallway.
Vanessa appeared.
She had changed clothes.
Her injured finger now had a small beige bandage.
“Officer?”
Harper turned.
“Mrs. Cole.”
“I came to get some things for Ethan.”
Her eyes moved toward Maria.
Then toward the evidence bag containing the key.
Vanessa stopped.
“What is that?”
Maria watched her face.
Vanessa looked confused.
Then horrified.
Then betrayed.
Again, exactly the right emotions.
“Another freezer key?” she whispered.
Harper said nothing.
Vanessa looked at Maria.
“How many did you have?”
Maria stepped forward.
“You planted it.”
Vanessa recoiled.
“You're insane.”
“You planted both.”
“Maria.”
Harper moved between them.
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“My stepson nearly died.”
Maria froze.
Stepson.
It was true, of course.
Vanessa had married Richard four years after Ethan's biological mother died.
But Maria had never heard her use that word before.
She always called Ethan her son.
Not tonight.
Tonight, under pressure, Ethan had suddenly become someone else's child.
Harper's phone buzzed.
He read the message.
His expression changed.
“What?” Vanessa asked.
Harper looked at her.
“The basement security camera stopped recording at 1:17 p.m.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“So?”
“It resumed at 1:41.”
Maria felt cold spread through her body.
Ethan had been discovered shortly after 1:40.
Twenty-four minutes missing.
Vanessa forced a small laugh.
“Cameras fail.”
Harper nodded.
“They do.”
He looked at his screen again.
“But this one didn't fail.”
Vanessa's smile vanished.
May you like
Harper met her eyes.
“Someone manually turned it off.”
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