Chapter 2: Six Words That Opened Everything
The sirens were close now.
Red and blue light swept across every face in the room.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Then Charles crossed the room in four steps and grabbed Maya by the arm.
"Not another word," he said through his teeth.
Maya winced.
But she did not look away from me.
"Let go of her," I said.
Charles tightened his grip.
"You have already done enough damage tonight, Claire."
"I have done nothing." I kept the phone raised.
"The dispatcher can hear everything you are saying."
His hand dropped.
Adrian's voice came out low and strange.
"Maya.
What did you tell her?"
"Nothing yet," Maya whispered.
"But I should have told someone years ago."
"Maya." His tone was a warning.
She turned to face him fully.
Her hands were shaking.
Her voice was not.
"There is a locked room down there, Claire.
There has been one since before you married into this family." She paused.
"Ask them why no one is allowed a key except Charles."
The room went completely still.
Eleanor made a sound I had never heard from her before.
Something between a gasp and a plea.
"She doesn't know what she's saying," Eleanor said quickly.
"She's upset.
She's confused."
But Maya's eyes never left mine.
Outside, a car door slammed.
Then another.
Heavy footsteps moved toward the front entrance.
Adrian looked at his father.
Something passed between them — fast, silent, and full of dread.
May you like
Charles straightened his jacket.
And said nothing.
