Chapter 3 - The Star BoxThe photograph changed everything.
For years, Jocelyn’s story had been simple because adults had made it simple.
Harrison left.
Natalie rebuilt her life.
Damon arrived later.
Natalie married Damon.
Then Natalie died.
Now there was proof that Harrison and Damon had once stood beside each other smiling.
Jocelyn returned to the heating vent.
“Freya?”
No answer.
She waited.
“Freya?”
A soft voice finally came through.
“Here.”
“Did Mom ever talk about Aunt Miriam?”
“No.”
“Did Damon?”
“No.”
“Dad?”
Freya hesitated.
“He said she’s trouble.”
Of course he did.
Jocelyn sat on the floor.
“What else did Dad ask you?”
Freya’s breathing became uneven.
“He asked if Mom ever gave me a key.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
“Anything blue?”
“My old backpack.”
“That’s all?”
“I think.”
Then Freya whispered, “He said if we help him, we can stay together.”
Jocelyn felt sick.
“Don’t believe him.”
“He’s our dad.”
“So?”
The word came out harsher than she intended.
Freya went quiet.
Jocelyn softened.
“Being Dad doesn’t make everything he says true.”
She had learned that twice now.
First Damon.
Then Harrison.
By afternoon Harrison returned with a social worker.
Her name was Claire Benton.
Jocelyn recognized the laminated county badge immediately.
Hope surged through her.
Claire was in her forties, with careful eyes that seemed to notice the room before Harrison could explain it.
She noticed the locked door.
The servant-style dress.
Jocelyn’s bare feet.
Her expression changed slightly.
Harrison smiled.
“Jocelyn’s clothes were damaged and dirty when I picked her up. This belonged to my mother. Temporary.”
Claire looked at the dress again.
“You didn’t buy her anything?”
“We arrived late.”
Jocelyn opened her mouth.
Harrison’s gaze found hers.
Cold.
Warning.
Claire noticed that too.
“Could I speak with Jocelyn alone?”
Harrison laughed lightly.
“Of course.”
He left.
The door remained open.
Claire pulled a chair closer.
“You know why I’m here?”
“Because of Damon?”
“Partly.”
Jocelyn looked toward the hallway.
“Can you take us somewhere?”
Claire’s face changed.
“Do you feel unsafe here?”
Jocelyn’s heart pounded.
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“He locks the doors.”
Claire glanced toward the knob.
“Which doors?”
“Mine. Freya’s.”
“How long?”
“Since last night.”
“Has he hurt you?”
“Not like Damon.”
Claire waited.
“What does that mean?”
“He won’t let me see Freya unless I tell him where Mom hid something.”
“What?”
“A blue key.”
Claire’s brows drew together.
“What does the key open?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did your father tell you?”
“No.”
“Did he threaten you?”
Jocelyn thought about his exact words.
Not openly.
That was what made Harrison harder.
Damon shouted.
Harrison controlled.
“He said Freya and I stay apart until I remember.”
Claire wrote something.
“Anything else?”
Jocelyn touched the dress.
“He made me wear this.”
“Why?”
“He said I have to learn how things work here.”
Claire looked toward the hallway again.
“You did the right thing telling me.”
Jocelyn’s eyes filled.
“Can we leave?”
Claire’s answer was careful.
“I need to see Freya and talk to your father.”
“No.”
Claire paused.
“What?”
“Don’t tell him everything while we’re here.”
“Why?”
“He’ll get mad.”
“Jocelyn, if I believe you are in immediate danger, I can contact—”
A shadow crossed the doorway.
Harrison.
“You can contact whom?”
Claire stood.
“I thought we agreed I’d have privacy.”
“You do.”
“You were listening.”
“This is my house.”
Claire’s expression hardened.
“Mr. Reed, I need to see Freya.”
“Of course.”
“Now.”
Harrison smiled.
He led her across the hall.
Jocelyn followed until he turned.
“You stay here.”
Claire looked back.
“It’s fine.”
Jocelyn didn’t think it was.
Ten minutes later Claire returned alone.
“Freya appears physically unharmed.”
Jocelyn stepped closer.
“What did she tell you?”
Claire did not answer.
Confidentiality.
Harrison stood behind her.
“We’ve had a difficult transition.”
Claire looked at him.
“I’ll be filing an updated safety assessment today.”
“Excellent.”
“And I’m recommending unannounced visits.”
Harrison’s smile tightened.
“Whatever helps.”
Claire turned to Jocelyn.
“I’ll see you again.”
Jocelyn wanted to grab her.
Instead she nodded.
At the front door, Claire paused beside an old console table.
A stack of mail rested there.
One envelope had already been opened.
Claire saw the return address.
Miriam Vale, Portland, Oregon.
She said nothing.
But she remembered it.
That evening, Harrison brought Jocelyn downstairs.
For the first time she saw the rest of the house.
It felt less like a home than a museum.
Covered furniture.
Dark wood.
Old family portraits.
Harrison led her into a study.
On the desk sat the photograph of Natalie, Harrison, and Damon.
Next to it was a photocopy of a legal document.
BRIAR PROPERTY PARTNERS LLC
Harrison tapped the paper.
“Your mother owned thirty-four percent.”
Jocelyn stared.
“What is it?”
“A company.”
“What company?”
“Property.”
“What does this have to do with the key?”
Harrison opened a drawer.
Inside were copies of bank records.
“Natalie believed money was missing.”
“Was it?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“Who took it?”
“Damon.”
Jocelyn stared at him.
“You?”
Harrison’s eyes sharpened.
“No.”
“You were in the company too.”
“So?”
“Mom wrote she trusted the wrong men.”
Harrison leaned forward.
“Damon stole from all of us.”
“Then why are you scared of a key?”
He went still.
Jocelyn had guessed correctly.
Harrison was afraid.
Not of the key itself.
Of whatever waited behind it.
She saw the truth in his face before he hid it.
He stood.
“Go upstairs.”
“I want Freya.”
“Not tonight.”
“You said—”
“Upstairs.”
Jocelyn did not move.
Harrison’s voice lowered.
“Your mother left evidence somewhere.”
Jocelyn’s heart pounded.
“Against Damon?”
A pause.
Then Harrison answered.
“Against whoever she thought betrayed her.”
That night, Jocelyn lay awake.
At nearly midnight, something scraped inside the vent.
“Jo?”
Freya.
“I’m here.”
“I remembered something.”
Jocelyn sat up.
“What?”
“Mom gave me a song.”
“What song?”
“Before the hospital.”
Freya sniffled.
“She said if I forgot everything else, remember the stars sing before the bird flies.”
Jocelyn froze.
The star box.
The blue bird.
May you like
Natalie had given each sister half a clue.
And Harrison had no idea.
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