Chapter 7 - THE NAME ON THE BRACELET
Adrian didn't blink.
“Where did you find it?”
Wren held the bracelet between two fingers.
“Near the river.”
“The warehouse?”
“Yes.”
Grant looked at Victor.
Victor's face was grim.
“Why did you keep it?”
Wren hesitated.
“Because I was afraid.”
Adrian's voice was hard.
“You've been afraid for twenty years.”
“Yes.”
“Of whom?”
Wren looked at the bracelet.
“Of the same man who paid me.”
“Samuel Cross?”
Wren nodded.
“But Cross is dead.”
“His name is.”
Adrian stared.
Wren continued.
“His network isn't.”
The room became silent.
I looked at the bracelet.
“Who is running it now?”
Wren didn't answer.
Adrian stepped closer.
“Who?”
Wren finally said—
“Your father's surviving partners.”
Grant's expression changed.
“That would mean people inside Adrian's company.”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked around the room.
The mansion.
The women.
The frame.
The objects his mother had hidden.
He suddenly understood something.
“This entire test.”
Wren looked at him.
“What?”
“The women.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“They weren't just here to choose things.”
Wren nodded.
“Some were sent to you.”
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“You're accusing us?”
“No.”
Wren pointed toward the necklace.
“I'm saying someone wanted access to Adrian's life.”
Caroline looked furious.
“My father would never do that.”
Wren looked at her.
“Your father may not have.”
She went quiet.
Adrian turned to the women.
“I need everyone to stay.”
Nobody argued.
Then he looked at Nora.
“Except you.”
My chest tightened.
“What?”
“Go upstairs.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because I don't know who I can trust.”
The words hurt more than I expected.
“You trusted me five minutes ago.”
“I still do.”
“Then why are you sending me away?”
“Because if something happens, I need you away from it.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Adrian frowned.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
I pointed toward the frame.
“Your mother left that for someone who would choose it.”
His expression softened.
“You chose it.”
“Then stop treating me like something fragile.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Adrian nodded.
“Stay.”
Grant looked uncomfortable.
Victor turned away.
Wren watched us quietly.
Suddenly, Caroline spoke.
“I know who my father met.”
Everyone turned.
She swallowed.
“Thomas wasn't the only person who came to our house after Evelyn died.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Who?”
“My father had meetings with someone named Richard Vale.”
Adrian froze.
“My uncle.”
Caroline nodded.
“Your father's older brother.”
Adrian looked at Grant.
“He died before I was born.”
Grant's face tightened.
“He did.”
Caroline shook her head.
“My father said Richard wasn't dead.”
Silence.
Adrian's voice was barely audible.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“But your father did.”
“Yes.”
Adrian turned away.
Another impossible piece.
Another dead man who might not have been dead.
But Wren interrupted.
“Richard isn't the person you need to worry about.”
Adrian turned.
“Who, then?”
Wren looked at Nora.
“The person who paid the boy.”
My heart stopped.
“Eddie?”
Wren nodded.
“Eddie didn't disappear because he saw your mother.”
“Then why?”
“Because he saw someone give her something.”
“What?”
“A key.”
Adrian looked at the brass key.
Wren nodded.
“That one.”
Grant stared.
“What did the key open?”
Wren's face became grim.
“A locker.”
“Where?”
“30th Street Station.”
Adrian immediately reached for his coat.
Wren stopped him.
“Don't go tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because the locker hasn't been touched in twenty years.”
“And?”
“Someone opened it three days ago.”
Nobody spoke.
Adrian looked at Nora.
Then Grant.
Then Victor.
“Who opened it?”
Wren's voice dropped.
“I don't know.”
He placed another object on the desk.
A train ticket.
Recent.
Philadelphia to New York.
Passenger name:
NORA BENNETT.
I stared at it.
“I didn't buy that.”
Adrian picked it up.
The departure date was tomorrow.
His expression changed.
Someone had planned for me to leave.
Not just leave the mansion.
Leave Philadelphia.
Adrian looked at Wren.
“Who bought this?”
Wren shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Then Victor noticed something written on the back.
Four words.
THE FRAME WAS NEVER THE PRIZE.
Adrian read them.
Then he looked at the brass key.
May you like
And suddenly said—
“Neither was Nora.”
