Chapter 7 - Rebecca's Warning
Nicholas replayed the message three times.
Each time, Walter's name sounded worse.
"He raised me after my father died," Nicholas said.
"That doesn't mean Rebecca trusted him."
"She trusted almost nobody."
"Maybe she had a reason."
The next morning Nicholas summoned Walter to the library.
Hannah stayed because Nicholas insisted.
"Did Rebecca ever tell you she was afraid of Claire?" he asked.
Walter did not pretend to be confused.
"Yes."
Nicholas's face went still.
"And you never told me."
"You were in love, angry, and surrounded by men who solved problems with permanent solutions."
"That's your excuse?"
"It's my explanation."
"Did she mention Dominic?"
Walter hesitated.
That was enough.
Nicholas slammed his fist against the wheelchair armrest.
"Get out."
"Nicholas--"
"Get out before I forget you're the closest thing I had to a father."
Walter left without defending himself.
Hannah found him an hour later in the greenhouse, standing among rows of white orchids.
"Why didn't you tell him?" she asked.
Walter looked tired for the first time.
"Because Rebecca came to me with suspicion, not proof. Three days later she was dead. Nicholas wanted blood. I gave him a funeral instead of a war."
"You buried her warning."
"Yes."
"And then Nicholas nearly died in a crash."
Walter's eyes met hers.
"Yes."
"You still didn't say anything."
"I thought the crash was retaliation from another family."
"Thought?"
"Until you started asking about his medication."
Hannah folded her arms.
"Who requested the missing mechanical report?"
Walter's expression changed.
"How do you know about that?"
"I asked."
He looked toward the glass door.
"Not here."
Before Hannah could stop him, he walked away.
That afternoon Dominic Valenti arrived without warning.
He was forty, handsome in a polished way, wearing a navy suit and a smile that never reached his eyes.
"Cousin," he said warmly as he entered the library. "You look better."
Nicholas did not smile.
"Disappointed?"
Dominic laughed.
"There he is."
Claire entered behind him.
Hannah watched the two of them avoid looking at each other.
That was more revealing than eye contact.
Dinner was tense and short.
At 1:00 a.m., Hannah woke to voices beneath her window.
She stepped onto the small balcony and looked down.
Claire and Dominic stood near the side entrance.
"You promised he'd be unable to sign by the engagement gala," Claire whispered.
Dominic grabbed her arm.
"Keep your voice down."
"The nurse is changing everything."
"Then get rid of the nurse."
"I tried. Nicholas won't let me."
Dominic leaned closer.
"Then make him think she betrayed him."
Hannah backed away from the railing.
A floorboard creaked behind her.
She spun around.
May you like
Walter stood in her bedroom doorway.
And in his hand was a key she had never seen before.
