Chapter 2 - The Letter That Never Arrived
"Nobody touches them," Julian said.
"This is a private family matter," she said. "The child is confused, and Elara has a history of manipulation."
Maisie moved closer to her mother. "I'm not confused."
"Of course not, sweetheart," Lydia replied, in a voice sweet enough to rot teeth. "Why don't you let the adults talk?"
"Don't call her sweetheart," Elara said.
"Everyone out," he ordered.
"Then you can explain it to me after they leave."
When the door closed, Julian faced Elara. "Tell me why you're here. The truth this time."
Elara reached into her coat and removed a yellowed envelope. The paper was folded twice and softened at the edges from being handled too often.
"Six years ago, your mother came to my apartment. She said you knew about the foundation transfers, that you believed I'd stolen the money, and that you never wanted to see me again. She showed me a letter with your signature and offered me a check if I left town."
"I never wrote that letter."
"I know that now. I didn't know it then. I was twenty-seven, scared, and three months pregnant. You wouldn't take my calls. Your office told me you were in London. Your mother said you were marrying someone else."
Julian's jaw tightened. "I was in London. I called you every night for a week. Your number had been disconnected. I came back and found your apartment empty. Then the police told me you had stolen from the foundation."
"They told me you had accused me."
Maisie climbed onto the edge of a chair and placed the teddy bear on her knees. "Mom, is this the right time?"
Elara knelt beside her. "Yes, baby."
The girl turned the bear over and tugged at a loose stitch under its arm. A small brass key slipped into her palm.
Julian went still. He recognized the key's stamped number. It belonged to a safe-deposit box at the old Bellweather Bank, a box his late father had rented under a name no one in the family used.
"Where did you get that?" he asked.
"Miss Maeve gave it to Mom," Maisie said. "She told us not to open the bear until somebody tried to make us go away again."
Elara looked at Julian. "Maeve was your father's assistant. She died three weeks ago. Before she died, she sent me a message saying the truth was in the box. Yesterday, someone broke into my apartment and searched Maisie's room."
May you like
Elara glanced at the closed door.
"Your mother."
