Chapter 5: Room Seventeen
“Because that's where I found my father's blood.””
Ethan's hand was still around my wrist.
I stared at him.
Then at the key.
Then back at him.
“You've been there.””
He released me.
“Once.””
“When?””
His eyes dropped.
“After my father died.””
“Why?””
“I wanted to know what happened.””
“And?””
“I found blood.””
My voice sharpened.
“Whose?””
“I don't know.””
“You just said your father's.””
“I recognized the blood.””
“That doesn't make sense.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“It was on the floor.””
“Did you call the police?””
He didn't answer.
My stomach dropped.
“Ethan.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because my mother told me not to.””
I looked toward Olivia.
She stood motionless now.
For once, there was no polished smile.
No superiority.
Only fear.
I held up the key.
“What is in Room Seventeen?””
Olivia said, “Nothing.””
The attorney laughed quietly.
“That's not what you told Thomas.””
She turned on him.
“You should have destroyed those papers.””
“I couldn't.””
“You were paid.””
“I was also threatened.””
The man stepped closer.
His name, he told us, was Arthur Bell.
I looked at him.
“You were my grandfather’s attorney?””
“Your grandmother's as well.””
“My grandmother?””
“Yes.””
“You just said she told you to save this for me.””
“I did.””
“When?””
“Two days before the incident.””
My heart pounded.
“The incident?””
He nodded.
“September 14, 1998.””
The date.
The same date written on the back of the photograph.
My mother whispered, “Oh my God.””
Arthur looked at her.
“You know the date?””
She nodded slowly.
“My mother said she was going away that week.””
I turned.
“Mom, what did Grandma tell you?””
My mother wiped beneath one eye.
“She said she had business with Thomas.””
My father stared at her.
“You never told me that.””
“I was sixteen years old,” she whispered.
“She told me not to ask questions.””
Arthur took a breath.
“She knew she was in danger.””
Olivia snapped, “No, she didn't.””
Arthur looked at her.
“She did.””
“Thomas was the one in danger,” Olivia said.
“No.””
His voice was suddenly firm.
“Thomas believed he was.””
I looked between them.
“What happened that night?””
Arthur glanced toward the guests.
“This should not be discussed here.””
I laughed.
“Everything has happened here.””
He looked toward my parents.
“Then at least let these two leave.””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
Arthur frowned.
My father said, “She's our daughter. We're staying.””
My mother moved beside him.
“We're not leaving her alone with these people.””
I felt tears sting my eyes.
After everything that had happened, they were still standing beside me.
Still choosing me.
I turned to Arthur.
“Tell me.””
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Thomas had discovered that money was being diverted from several Sterling companies.””
I listened carefully.
“By whom?””
Arthur looked toward Olivia.
She said nothing.
“Thomas suspected his wife.””
Olivia's face hardened.
“That is a lie.””
“He confronted her.””
“When?””
“The evening of September 14.””
Nadia whispered, “Just like Mara said.””
Arthur nodded.
“Mara heard them arguing.””
“What were they arguing about?””
“The money.””
“Ten million?””
“Yes.””
“What did Thomas want to do?””
“Return it.””
“To whom?””
Arthur looked at me.
“To the people it belonged to.””
I frowned.
“Why did he need my grandmother?””
“Because your grandmother had documents proving where it came from.””
I thought of the folder.
The old photograph.
The beneficiary documents.
All of it suddenly seemed connected.
“What documents?””
“The Bellmore ledger.””
Olivia spoke quietly.
“It never existed.””
Arthur smiled sadly.
“You know better.””
He opened his briefcase.
Inside was a thick brown file.
I stared at it.
He placed it on a nearby table.
“This is a copy.””
“Where's the original?””
“Room Seventeen.””
I looked at the key.
“Why was it hidden there?””
Arthur's voice lowered.
“Because that room was designed as a private archive.””
Ethan interrupted.
“It isn't there anymore.””
Arthur turned to him.
“You don't know that.””
“I searched it.””
“After your mother told you to?””
Ethan looked away.
My heart sank.
“Ethan.””
He didn't answer.
“When did you search it?””
“Two years ago.””
“Why?””
“Someone mailed me a photograph.””
“Of what?””
“My father.””
My pulse jumped.
“Alive?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“You've seen a photograph of your father after he supposedly died?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“At Bellmore.””
“Who sent it?””
“I don't know.””
“Do you still have it?””
He hesitated.
Then reached inside his jacket.
He pulled out a folded photograph.
My hands shook as I took it.
Thomas Sterling stood in front of Bellmore.
Alive.
The date stamped on the photograph was October 2, 1998.
Eighteen days after the night he supposedly died.
My father stepped closer.
“That's impossible.””
Ethan nodded.
“That's what I thought.””
I looked at the picture again.
“Who is beside him?””
A woman stood partially out of frame.
Her face was turned away.
But she wore a blue dress.
The same shade as my grandmother's favorite dress.
My breath caught.
“Is that my grandmother?””
Arthur leaned closer.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“How do you know?””
“Because Evelyn Morgan died on September 14.””
My heart stopped.
“Then who is that woman?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Nadia did.
“Mara.””
Everyone turned.
Nadia pointed at the photograph.
“That’s Mara.””
I looked at Ethan.
“Your father was alive eighteen days after his supposed death.””
“Yes.””
“And Mara was with him.””
“Yes.””
“Then why was he declared dead?””
Ethan's voice broke.
“Because my mother told me he was.””
Olivia finally spoke.
“I was protecting my son.””
I turned toward her.
“From what?””
“From him.””
Her eyes shifted to Ethan.
“Your father had become dangerous.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You said he died.””
“He did.””
“You said he had a heart attack.””
“He did.””
Arthur shook his head.
“No.””
Olivia glared at him.
“You weren't there.””
“I was.””
The attorney's voice was cold.
“I saw the body.””
I swallowed.
“Whose body?””
Arthur looked at me.
“That's the question.””
Silence.
I felt dizzy.
“You mean you don't know whose body was buried?””
“We knew it was a man.””
“But…”
“It was burned.””
My mother whispered, “Burned?””
Arthur nodded.
“Facial identification was impossible.””
I turned toward Ethan.
“And you accepted that?””
“I was twenty-three.””
“You didn't question it?””
“My mother wouldn't let me.””
Olivia said, “You were grieving.””
Ethan looked at her.
“Was I?””
She went silent.
My phone buzzed.
I flinched.
A message appeared.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER*
Don't trust Arthur.
I looked up.
Arthur was standing only a few feet away.
Another message appeared.
Room 17 has already been opened.
My stomach tightened.
I showed Ethan.
He read it.
His face turned pale.
“Who is sending these?””
“I don't know.””
The phone buzzed again.
This time there was a photograph.
A dark basement.
A metal door.
The number 17 painted across it.
And beneath the door, a thin line of fresh light.
Someone was inside.
Ethan grabbed my phone.
“That's Bellmore.””
“You said it was abandoned.””
“It is.””
Arthur took the phone from him.
He studied the image.
“That's impossible.””
My father said, “Nothing seems impossible anymore.””
Olivia suddenly moved toward the exit.
I noticed.
“Where are you going?””
She stopped.
“Home.””
“No.””
She turned.
“You don't command me.””
“Then I'll call the police.””
Her face changed.
“For what?””
“For my parents being assaulted.””
“Call them.””
I raised the phone.
“And for the forged documents.””
Her jaw tightened.
“Those documents are private.””
“And for the life insurance beneficiary change.””
She looked at Ethan.
His expression was unreadable.
“And the secret Bellmore records,” I continued.
Olivia stepped closer.
“You don't know what you're doing.””
“Then tell me.””
Her voice dropped.
“You open that room, and your family will never be the same.””
I stared at her.
“They already aren't.””
I turned toward my father.
“Dad.””
He understood immediately.
“We're going to Bellmore.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“I'll come.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
His face fell.
“Clara—”
“You've lied to me.””
“I know.””
“You've hidden things.””
“I know.””
“And you've been inside that room.””
“I can keep you safe.””
I shook my head.
“You're the reason I need to be careful.””
Nadia stepped beside me.
“I'll go with you.””
Arthur nodded.
“I'll come as well.””
My father reached for his car keys.
“We're all going.””
Olivia remained by the doors.
I looked back at her.
“Are you coming?””
She said nothing.
“Because if you don't, I'm going anyway.””
Her eyes met mine.
For the first time, she looked defeated.
Then her expression changed.
Not defeated.
Desperate.
“Clara.””
I stopped.
“Before you go…”
She looked at Ethan.
Then at me.
“There is one thing you need to know about Room Seventeen.””
“What?””
Her lips trembled.
“The blood Ethan found wasn't your grandfather's.””
I stared at her.
“Whose was it?””
Olivia swallowed.
Then whispered:
“Your grandmother's.””
I felt the world tilt.
But before anyone could speak, a car engine roared outside.
Arthur rushed to the window.
His face went white.
A black SUV had stopped at the entrance.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
He looked toward the ballroom.
Then toward me.
Arthur whispered one sentence.
“That's the man who was supposed to be dead.””
May you like
And Ethan suddenly recognized him.
“Dad?””
