Chapter 5 - THE FIRST NIGHT WITHOUT HERJasper barely slept.
Every sound in the mansion felt louder without Mabel.
The heat clicking on.
The wind at the windows.
Footsteps downstairs.
At two in the morning, he took the brass key from beneath his pillow.
He knew exactly where he wanted to go.
His father’s study was at the end of the west hallway.
Valerie kept it locked.
She said the room made her sad.
Jasper believed her until Mabel’s note.
Remember the blue room.
He slid the key into the lock.
It fit.
The door opened.
The room smelled like dust and leather.
Dark-blue walls.
Bookshelves.
A huge wooden desk.
His father’s chair.
For a moment Jasper forgot why he had come.
He crossed the room and touched the chair.
“Dad?”
Silence.
He wished Graham could answer.
Then he remembered the note.
He searched carefully.
Desk drawers.
Cabinet.
Behind books.
Nothing blue except the walls.
Then Jasper noticed a small scratch on the side of the desk.
A keyhole.
The brass key fit again.
A narrow drawer opened.
Inside was an envelope.
Not addressed to Jasper.
It was addressed to Mabel.
He frowned.
Why would his father hide a letter for Mabel inside his desk if she already had things from him?
He pulled it out.
Then heard voices.
Jasper froze.
Valerie.
And a man.
He quickly crawled behind the sofa.
The study door opened.
Valerie entered.
A man followed.
Jasper recognized him.
Harrison Blake.
His mother’s financial adviser.
Harrison had started coming to the house frequently after Graham died.
He was forty-something, polished, always wearing expensive watches.
Valerie shut the door.
“Why did the bank call Adrian?”
Harrison whispered.
“Because the trust owns part of the property.”
“I know that now.”
“You should have known before trying to borrow against it.”
Valerie glared.
“Graham never told me.”
“Apparently Graham told Mabel.”
Jasper’s breath caught.
Harrison continued.
“That’s why she had to go.”
Valerie paced.
“She knows too much.”
“She’s seventy-two.”
“And?”
“She has no money to fight you.”
Valerie stopped.
“You don’t know Mabel.”
Harrison smiled.
“I know lawyers.”
Valerie looked toward the desk.
“If Graham left copies in here, I need them.”
“He probably did.”
“And Adrian won’t tell me what power she has.”
“Then find the documents.”
Valerie opened drawers.
Jasper pressed himself against the sofa.
Harrison said:
“Once you know the exact clause, we can deal with it.”
“How?”
“You’re Jasper’s mother.”
“So?”
“If Mabel’s role is tied to Jasper’s welfare, we argue she’s interfering with your parenting.”
Jasper’s stomach hurt.
Valerie lowered her voice.
“And boarding school?”
“We send him after the fall term.”
Jasper nearly gasped.
“He’ll adjust.”
“He’ll hate me.”
“He’s seven.”
Harrison touched Valerie’s waist.
Jasper froze.
His mother did not move away.
Instead, she leaned into him.
“Sometimes I wish Graham had left everything simple.”
Harrison smiled.
“If Graham had made things simple, we wouldn’t have to be careful.”
Then he kissed her.
Jasper looked down.
He knew his father was dead.
He knew adults were allowed to love again.
But something about the secrecy made him feel as though he had seen something forbidden.
Valerie pulled away.
“Not here.”
“You’re the one who called me.”
“I called you about the trust.”
“Of course.”
He smiled.
Jasper hated that smile.
Valerie searched another drawer.
Then Harrison asked:
“What if Mabel has the originals?”
“She probably does.”
“Then get them.”
“How?”
Harrison shrugged.
“Offer money.”
“She won’t take it.”
“Then make her afraid.”
Jasper’s eyes widened.
Valerie did not answer immediately.
Finally:
“I just need her away from Jasper.”
Behind the sofa, Jasper gripped the envelope.
For the first time he understood something.
Mabel had not left because she wanted to.
His mother had sent her away because she knew something.
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And whatever was inside the envelope in Jasper’s hand—
Valerie was trying to find it.
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