CHAPTER 2
I didn't sleep.
Neither did Noah.
Lily finally exhausted herself sometime after midnight and fell asleep curled against my side on the living-room couch.
Every time I tried to move, her little hand tightened around my shirt.
So I stayed.
Noah sat in the armchair across from us.
He had an ice pack against his cheek.
“You can sleep,” I whispered.
He shook his head.
“I'm okay.”
I hated those words.
Children said “I'm okay” when adults had taught them that telling the truth created problems.
I waited until Lily's breathing was deep and even.
Then I looked at him.
“Noah, I need you to tell me everything.”
His eyes immediately went to Lily.
“She can't hear?”
“She won't.”
He was silent for nearly a minute.
Then he put the ice pack on the table.
“Vanessa didn't like us from the beginning.”
My stomach tightened.
“She acted like she did.”
“When you were home.”
That sentence hurt.
Noah stared at his hands.
“At first, it was little stuff. She'd tell Lily not to touch things. She'd tell me not to eat too much because groceries cost money.”
I closed my eyes briefly.
“What else?”
“She said Mom was selfish for leaving us with you.”
My jaw clenched.
“She said you only took us because you felt guilty.”
“That's not true.”
“I know.”
He looked at me.
“I think I know.”
That uncertainty cut deeper than anger would have.
I leaned forward.
“Claire was my family long before Vanessa came into my life. You and Lily are not a debt. You're not an obligation.”
His eyes filled.
“You're here because I love you.”
He looked away.
I gave him a few seconds.
Then I asked the question I dreaded.
“Did Vanessa ever hit either of you before tonight?”
Noah shook his head.
Then stopped.
I saw it.
“Noah.”
“She grabbed Lily before.”
“How?”
“Her arm. Sometimes her hair.”
My hands curled into fists.
“And you?”
“She shoved me once.”
“When?”
“Last week.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
His answer came immediately.
“She said you'd lose the house.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“She said her dad owned part of your company and if we caused trouble, he'd make you lose everything. Then we'd go into foster care and probably get separated.”
I felt something inside me tear.
Vanessa hadn't only frightened them.
She had found the one terror both children carried after losing their mother and used it against them.
Separation.
Noah lowered his voice.
“I couldn't let that happen to Lily.”
“You're twelve.”
“I know.”
“You should never have been responsible for keeping this family together.”
His mouth trembled.
“I promised Mom.”
I swallowed.
“What did you promise her?”
“That I'd look after Lily.”
I moved from the couch and crouched beside his chair.
“Looking after Lily doesn't mean taking every hit meant for her.”
He looked at me.
“It kind of does.”
“No.”
I put my hand carefully on his shoulder.
“That's my job now.”
He stared at me for several seconds.
Then he whispered, “What if Vanessa comes back?”
“She won't get near you.”
“What if her dad makes you send us away?”
“He can't.”
“You don't know him like she does.”
“Maybe not.”
I took the brass key from my pocket.
“But I think your mother did.”
His expression changed.
He glanced toward Lily.
“She made me promise I wouldn't ask Lily where she kept it.”
“Why?”
“Mom said Lily was too little to lie convincingly.”
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
“That sounds like Claire.”
Noah's mouth twitched.
For a moment, he looked twelve again.
Then the fear returned.
“She said if anyone asked about the key, we shouldn't answer.”
“Anyone?”
“She said especially Vanessa.”
My skin prickled.
I stared at the number.
314.
“Did Claire tell you what it opens?”
“No.”
“Did she mention a bank?”
He shook his head.
“A locker?”
Another shake.
“Storage unit?”
“No.”
Then he frowned.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“There was a place Mom used to take us sometimes.”
I leaned closer.
“What place?”
“The train station downtown.”
My pulse jumped.
“Union Station?”
“Yeah. But we never took a train.”
That got my attention.
“What did she do there?”
“She'd buy us hot chocolate and tell us to sit where she could see us. Then she'd disappear for five or ten minutes.”
“How often?”
“Maybe three times.”
“When was the last time?”
“A few weeks before she went back into the hospital.”
I looked at the key again.
Union Station had old rental lockers.
Most had been converted to electronic access years ago, but one section in the east concourse still used physical keys for long-term storage.
I knew because my company had renovated part of the station.
Locker 314.
My heart began pounding.
Claire had hidden something.
Something Vanessa desperately wanted.
My phone vibrated on the table.
Vanessa.
I let it ring.
It stopped.
Then immediately rang again.
I rejected the call.
A text appeared.
WE NEED TO TALK BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING STUPID.
Another followed.
MY FATHER IS ALREADY INVOLVED.
Then:
DO NOT TAKE THAT KEY ANYWHERE.
I stared at the screen.
Noah saw my face.
“What?”
I turned the phone toward him.
He read the messages.
His color drained.
“Daniel?”
“She's confirming everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“If the key meant nothing, she wouldn't care where I took it.”
I stood.
“I need to call someone.”
“Police?”
“Eventually.”
“Eventually?”
I looked at Lily asleep on the couch.
“I don't know what's behind this yet. But I know Vanessa's father has influence. If Claire hid evidence, I want it secured before anyone knows exactly what we have.”
Noah stared at me.
“You believe Mom?”
“Always.”
That answer came without thought.
I called Marcus Reed.
Marcus had been my college roommate before becoming an attorney. More importantly, he had represented Claire during the final months of her life when she updated her estate documents.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Daniel?”
“Sorry it's late.”
“It better be good.”
“Did Claire ever mention a key to you?”
Silence.
Then Marcus said, “What kind of key?”
“A brass one. Number 314.”
Another silence.
Longer.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Are the children with you?”
“Yes.”
“Is Vanessa there?”
“No.”
I heard Marcus moving.
A door opening.
Keys jingling.
“Lock everything.”
My chest tightened.
“Marcus.”
“I mean it. Lock your doors. Don't let anyone in.”
“What do you know?”
“I know Claire made me promise that if you ever called about a numbered key, I was to meet you in person before answering questions.”
I stared into the darkened room.
“Why?”
“She was scared her phone was being monitored.”
My mouth went dry.
“By who?”
Marcus hesitated.
Then said the name I was already thinking.
“Richard Vale.”
I looked toward Noah.
He had heard.
His eyes widened.
Marcus continued.
“Daniel, whatever you do, don't go to that locker alone.”
A loud knock hit my front door.
Three heavy strikes.
Noah jumped.
Lily woke screaming.
I grabbed her before she could fall from the couch.
The knocking came again.
Then a man's voice.
“Mr. Mercer? Police department.”
Noah looked at me.
Hope flashed across his face.
Mine didn't.
Because I had never called the police.
May you like
And when I checked the security camera, the two men standing outside had badges.
But the black SUV parked behind them belonged to Richard Vale's private security company.
