Chapter 7 - The Woman in My Coat
The hidden door opened just wide enough for a hand to slide through. A woman's wrist appeared, wrapped in a heavy gold bracelet engraved V. Emma grabbed it before the woman could retreat.
“Who are you?”
A face twisted into view. It resembled Natalie's, but the dark eyes and narrow nose were different. She wore Emma's stolen coat, now smeared with dust. Her hair had been dyed chestnut brown.
“I'm June,” she gasped. “Your mother-in-law hired me to play you.”
“Where's Lily?”
“In the next room. I didn't touch her. I swear.”
Daniel pulled the door wider. Lily rushed out, white teddy bear pressed to her chest, and Emma caught her so hard they nearly fell together.
“Mommy, Grandma said I wouldn't see you again.”
“You're seeing me now.” Emma kissed Lily's hair. “And you're staying with me.”
Lily smelled of dust and the strawberry shampoo Emma had used after their afternoon bath. That familiar sweetness nearly broke Emma. She held her daughter long enough to feel a steady heartbeat, then forced herself to move. Love could be gentle later; right now it had to be fast.
Rosa wrapped her jacket around the child. For one bright second Emma believed the worst was over.
Then June said, “You need to get out before midnight. The papers aren't the real plan.”
“Talk,” Emma ordered.
June glanced at Daniel. “His mother paid me to film a fake abuse incident and get Lily into the west wing. But tonight I heard her telling a lawyer that the mother would be declared unstable after a terrible accident.”
Daniel swore. “What accident?”
June pointed at the ceiling. Through the service passage ran a narrow copper pipe. A sharp chemical smell drifted from the vent.
Rosa covered Lily's nose. “Gas,” she said.
Emma grabbed her daughter and started toward the nursery. Behind them, a mechanical timer ticked beneath the floorboards.
June whispered, “Mrs. Whitmore said the house had to look empty when the fire started.”
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At that exact moment, the Christmas lights blinked out.
CHRISTMAS EVE BETRAYAL • THE MISSING DAUGHTER
