Chapter 11 - The Woman Who Owned the Room
Margaret did not raise her voice.
She never needed to.
"Rose, come here."
Rose grabbed Lily's hand.
"No."
Margaret's smile faded by one degree.
"You have caused enough trouble."
Daniel stepped onto the porch. "Stay away from them."
Margaret looked at him as if he were a noisy appliance.
"Daniel, you have always confused stubbornness with courage."
Two uniformed officers stood near the driveway. Neither moved.
Daniel looked from them to Detective Morris.
"Are you kidding me?"
Morris said, "Mrs. Vale has legal guardianship paperwork for Rose Bennett."
Rose shouted, "She's lying!"
Margaret held up a leather folder.
"Her mother abandoned her. I am her closest living relative."
Claire stepped outside.
"Rebecca is alive."
For the first time, Margaret's expression slipped.
Just a flicker.
Then it returned.
"Your sister died years ago. You know that."
"Rose saw her three days ago."
Margaret looked at Rose.
Something cold passed between them.
Daniel saw it.
So did Claire.
"What did you do to Rebecca?" Claire asked.
Margaret sighed. "Still blaming everyone else for your guilt?"
Claire recoiled.
Margaret continued, "You gave us Emma. You signed the statement saying Rebecca was unstable. You cashed the trust payment after the investigation closed."
Daniel turned toward Claire.
"Trust payment?"
Claire's face collapsed.
Margaret smiled again.
"Your wife has always been practical."
Rose pulled the silver bank key from Daniel's pocket before anyone realized what she was doing.
She held it up.
"Then why was Rebecca saving this for him?"
Margaret's eyes locked on the key.
The calm disappeared.
"Give me that."
Rose ran.
Margaret shouted, "Stop her!"
Daniel moved at the same time.
He blocked Morris.
Claire blocked one of the officers.
Rose sprinted around the side of the house.
Then a scream came from the alley.
Daniel ran after her.
He found the silver key on the pavement.
May you like
Rose was gone.
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