Chapter 2 - The Locked Door
Victoria recovered fast.
“She went home.”
Richard stared at her.
“Without saying goodbye to Maya?”
“She was upset.”
“About what?”
Victoria sighed as if he were exhausting her. “Apparently, I’m too strict. I told her Maya needed structure. Ella took it personally.”
Maya whispered against Richard’s shoulder, “Ella downstairs.”
The room went silent.
Victoria laughed once. “See? This is what I mean. She makes things up.”
Richard did not move.
“What downstairs?”
Maya pointed toward the service corridor.
Richard carried her through the hall. Victoria followed.
“Richard, you’re seriously letting a two-year-old lead you around the house?”
“Yes.”
His answer stopped her.
They reached the service stairwell. The lights were off.
Maya began shaking again.
“No dark.”
“It’s okay,” Richard said. “I’ve got you.”
He switched on the lights and descended.
The lower level contained the wine cellar, storage rooms, laundry, and an old staff sitting room that had not been used in years.
Richard heard nothing at first.
Then Maya lifted her head.
“Ella.”
A sound came from behind the storage door.
Three faint knocks.
Richard’s chest tightened.
He crossed the corridor and turned the handle.
Locked.
“Who locked this?”
Victoria stayed three steps behind him. “I have no idea.”
Richard set Maya down long enough to pull the emergency key from a cabinet.
The door opened.
Ella Morales sat on the floor against a stack of linen boxes. Her lower lip was split. One sleeve of her uniform had been torn at the shoulder. Her phone lay smashed beside the wall.
Maya screamed her name.
“Ella!”
Ella looked up and burst into tears.
“Mr. Sterling.”
Richard’s voice dropped dangerously low. “Who did this?”
Ella looked at Victoria.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Be very careful what you say.”
Richard turned his head.
“Victoria.”
She stopped.
Ella pulled herself up against the shelf. “She locked me in here because I tried to call you.”
“That is a lie,” Victoria snapped.
Ella flinched.
Richard saw it.
Maya ran to Ella and wrapped both arms around her knees.
Ella touched the child’s hair with trembling fingers.
“She grabbed Maya,” Ella said. “Hard. Maya was crying. I told her to stop. Then she dragged her toward the old music room.”
Richard frowned. “The music room?”
Ella nodded.
“She calls it the red room now.”
Richard’s blood went cold.
May you like
That room had been locked since Maya’s mother died.
And Richard was the only person who was supposed to have the key.
