Chapter 4: The Secret Behind the Locked Door## Chapter 4: The Secret Behind the Locked Door
“Then perhaps you should have
“Then perhaps you should have kept your promise.””
Ruth's words hung in the greenhouse like kept your promise.””
Ruth's words hung in the greenhouse like smoke.
Daniel stared at his mother, unable to reconcile the woman standing before smoke.
Daniel stared at his mother, unable to reconcile the woman standing before him with the grandmother who had held Lucy through every fever and him with the grandmother who had held Lucy through every fever and kissed her scraped knees.
“What promise?”” he demanded.
Gloria tightened kissed her scraped knees.
“What promise?”” he demanded.
Gloria tightened her fingers around the brass key.
“Daniel, please. Let me explain.””
“Explain what? That her fingers around the brass key.
“Daniel, please. Let me explain.””
“Explain what? That you've been hiding a child in my own garden? That you knew Ruth was keeping someone you've been hiding a child in my own garden? That you knew Ruth was keeping someone behind a locked door?””
“I didn't know she was still here.””
Ruth gave behind a locked door?””
“I didn't know she was still here.””
Ruth gave a quiet laugh.
“Oh, Gloria. You always did have a talent for making yourself sound innocent.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“ a quiet laugh.
“Oh, Gloria. You always did have a talent for making yourself sound innocent.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“Both of you. Stop talking around the truth.””
RainBoth of you. Stop talking around the truth.””
Rain hammered the greenhouse roof. Water ran down the glass in crooked streams, distorting the hammered the greenhouse roof. Water ran down the glass in crooked streams, distorting the garden lights outside.
Behind the hidden door, Evelyn was crying.
“Mr. Mercer?”” garden lights outside.
Behind the hidden door, Evelyn was crying.
“Mr. Mercer?”” she called.
“Please don't let her come in.””
Daniel turned toward the door.
“I won't. I promise.””
Ruth pulled she called.
“Please don't let her come in.””
Daniel turned toward the door.
“I won't. I promise.””
Ruth pulled a small key from her pocket.
“You have no idea what you're a small key from her pocket.
“You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.””
“Then tell me.””
“You wouldn't believe me.””
“Try.””
She getting yourself into.””
“Then tell me.””
“You wouldn't believe me.””
“Try.””
She looked at him with something dangerously close to pity.
“Ask your mother why Ada's first daughter was never looked at him with something dangerously close to pity.
“Ask your mother why Ada's first daughter was never mentioned in your wedding photographs. Ask her why every family document from before Lucy mentioned in your wedding photographs. Ask her why every family document from before Lucy was born has been altered. And ask her why she agreed to let me protect Evelyn.””
Gloria flinched.
Daniel was born has been altered. And ask her why she agreed to let me protect Evelyn.””
Gloria flinched.
Daniel slowly turned toward his mother.
“Ada had another daughter?””
Gloria's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
slowly turned toward his mother.
“Ada had another daughter?””
Gloria's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
The answer seemed to steal the air from his lungs.
“How?””
“Ada gave birth to Evelyn before she met you.””
The answer seemed to steal the air from his lungs.
“How?””
“Ada gave birth to Evelyn before she met you.””
Daniel stared at her.
“That isn't possible. I knew everything about Ada's past.””
“No,”Daniel stared at her.
“That isn't possible. I knew everything about Ada's past.””
“No,” Gloria whispered.
“You knew what she felt safe telling you.””
Ruth leaned against a gardening Gloria whispered.
“You knew what she felt safe telling you.””
Ruth leaned against a gardening table and folded her arms.
“Your mother is leaving out the important part.””
Gloria table and folded her arms.
“Your mother is leaving out the important part.””
Gloria rounded on her.
“Don't you dare.””
“Why? Because the truth makes you rounded on her.
“Don't you dare.””
“Why? Because the truth makes you look bad?””
Daniel struck the table with his palm.
“ENOUGH!””
The metal tools rattled look bad?””
Daniel struck the table with his palm.
“ENOUGH!””
The metal tools rattled.
Even Ruth fell silent.
Daniel looked at Gloria.
“.
Even Ruth fell silent.
Daniel looked at Gloria.
“Who was Evelyn's father?””
His mother lowered her gaze.
“I don't know.””
Who was Evelyn's father?””
His mother lowered her gaze.
“I don't know.””
Ruth smiled faintly.
“That's convenient.””
Gloria's face hardened.
“I know thatRuth smiled faintly.
“That's convenient.””
Gloria's face hardened.
“I know that Ada was very young when Evelyn was born. Her family was falling apart, and she was Ada was very young when Evelyn was born. Her family was falling apart, and she was terrified. She came to me because she believed I could help her.””
“Help her do what?””
“Keep terrified. She came to me because she believed I could help her.””
“Help her do what?””
“Keep the baby safe.””
“From whom?””
Gloria looked toward the locked door.
“From a man who believed the baby safe.””
“From whom?””
Gloria looked toward the locked door.
“From a man who believed Evelyn belonged to him.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Was he dangerous?””
“Yes.””
The word came out without hesitation.
For a moment, Gloria looked older Evelyn belonged to him.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Was he dangerous?””
“Yes.””
The word came out without hesitation.
For a moment, Gloria looked older than Daniel had ever seen her.
“He threatened Ada. He told than Daniel had ever seen her.
“He threatened Ada. He told her that if she tried to leave him, he'd take Evelyn away. When Ada finally escaped her that if she tried to leave him, he'd take Evelyn away.
When Ada finally escaped, she had almost nothing. She came to me with a baby, she had almost nothing. She came to me with a baby in her arms and nowhere else to go.””
Daniel glanced at Ruth.
“And how in her arms and nowhere else to go.””
Daniel glanced at Ruth.
“And how does my wife fit into this?””
Ruth pushed away from the table.
“Your mother asked me to help.””
Gloria does my wife fit into this?””
Ruth pushed away from the table.
“Your mother asked me to help.””
Gloria shook her head.
“I asked you to find a safe place for Evelyn temporarily. You were working with a family who had experience caring for children in difficult circumstances.””
“And shook her head.
“I asked you to find a safe place for Evelyn temporarily. You were working with a family who had experience caring for children in difficult circumstances.””
“And I did exactly that.””
“You promised me she would be safe.””
I did exactly that.””
“You promised me she would be safe.””
“She was safe.””
“Behind a locked door?”” Daniel demanded.
Ruth's expression sharpened.
“Evelyn was not supposed to be here permanently“She was safe.””
“Behind a locked door?”” Daniel demanded.
Ruth's expression sharpened.
“Evelyn was not supposed to be here permanently. Ada brought her back years later, after the situation had changed. She wanted to tell.
Ada brought her back years later, after the situation had changed. She wanted to tell you everything.””
Daniel froze.
“Ada brought her here?””
“Yes,” Gloria whispered you everything.””
Daniel froze.
“Ada brought her here?””
“Yes,” Gloria whispered.
“When?””
“Shortly before she died.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Daniel remembered the.
“When?””
“Shortly before she died.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Daniel remembered the final weeks of his first wife's life. The hospital visits. The medication. The conversations that had ended whenever he entered final weeks of his first wife's life.
The hospital visits. The medication. The conversations that had ended whenever he entered the room.
He remembered Ada asking him to take Lucy for a the room. He remembered Ada asking him to take Lucy for a walk one afternoon because she needed to speak privately with Gloria.
He had thought it was about her walk one afternoon because she needed to speak privately with Gloria.
He had thought it was about her will.
He had thought they were discussing funeral arrangements.
“You knew Ada was will.
He had thought they were discussing funeral arrangements.
“You knew Ada was bringing Evelyn here,” he said.
Gloria nodded miserably.
“I bringing Evelyn here,” he said.
Gloria nodded miserably.
“I helped her.””
“And you never told me?””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
helped her.””
“And you never told me?””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
Gloria's gaze moved toward Ruth.
“Of what would happen if the wrong person found out.””
Gloria's gaze moved toward Ruth.
“Of what would happen if the wrong person found out.””
Ruth laughed.
“You're making it sound as though I kidnapped her.””
Ruth laughed.
“You're making it sound as though I kidnapped her.””
“Didn't you?”” Daniel asked.
Ruth's face went cold.
“Didn't you?”” Daniel asked.
Ruth's face went cold.
“No. I protected her. When Ada died, the situation became complicated. Evelyn was frightened, Lucy was grieving,“No.
I protected her. When Ada died, the situation became complicated. Evelyn was frightened, Lucy was grieving, and you were barely functioning.
I thought I could keep everything under control until the and you were barely functioning. I thought I could keep everything under control until the right time.””
“Six years?””
“I was trying to protect this family!””
“By right time.””
“Six years?””
“I was trying to protect this family!””
“By hiding a child from her father?””
“You don't even know whether you're her father!””
The words hiding a child from her father?””
“You don't even know whether you're her father!””
The words exploded through the greenhouse.
Daniel went still.
Gloria covered her mouth.
Behind exploded through the greenhouse.
Daniel went still.
Gloria covered her mouth.
Behind the door, Evelyn stopped crying.
Ruth seemed to realize what she'd revealed. She the door, Evelyn stopped crying.
Ruth seemed to realize what she'd revealed. She pressed her lips together, but the damage pressed her lips together, but the damage was done.
Daniel took one slow step toward her.
“What did you just say?””
Ruth lifted her chin.
“I said you don't know the whole story.””
“Then was done.
Daniel took one slow step toward her.
“What did you just say?””
Ruth lifted her chin.
“I said you don't know the whole story.””
“Then tell it.””
“No.””
“Tell me now.””
She looked toward tell it.””
“No.””
“Tell me now.””
She looked toward the entrance, calculating whether she could get past him.
Daniel blocked her path.
“Who is Evelyn's father the entrance, calculating whether she could get past him.
Daniel blocked her path.
“Who is Evelyn's father?””
Ruth's silence was answer enough to make his hands?””
Ruth's silence was answer enough to make his hands tremble.
He turned to Gloria.
“Open the door.””
Gloria held out the key.
tremble.
He turned to Gloria.
“Open the door.””
Gloria held out the key.
Daniel took it and knelt beside the hidden lock.
“Evelyn? I'mDaniel took it and knelt beside the hidden lock.
“Evelyn? I'm opening the door now.””
“Is Ruth leaving?””
“Not yet.””
“Will you opening the door now.””
“Is Ruth leaving?””
“Not yet.””
“Will you let her take me away again?””
“No.””
The lock turned let her take me away again?””
“No.””
The lock turned.
Daniel pulled the door open.
Behind it was a cramped room with a narrow bed, a small wooden.
Daniel pulled the door open.
Behind it was a cramped room with a narrow bed, a small wooden table, and shelves filled with children's books. A battery-powered lamp cast a weak yellow glow over table, and shelves filled with children's books. A battery-powered lamp cast a weak yellow glow over the walls.
A little girl sat curled beneath a blanket.
Her dark hair fell across the walls.
A little girl sat curled beneath a blanket.
Her dark hair fell across her forehead. A red ribbon was tied around her wrist.
And above her bed her forehead. A red ribbon was tied around her wrist.
And above her bed hung a photograph of Ada holding a baby.
Evelyn looked at Daniel with enormous, exhausted eyes.
“Are hung a photograph of Ada holding a baby.
Evelyn looked at Daniel with enormous, exhausted eyes.
“Are you really my mother's husband?””
Daniel knelt.
“I was.””
“Before she you really my mother's husband?””
Daniel knelt.
“I was.””
“Before she died?””
“Yes.””
“Did you love her?””
The question nearly broke him.
“ died?””
“Yes.””
“Did you love her?””
The question nearly broke him.
“More than I knew how to say.””
Evelyn studied his face.
“Then why did you leave me here?””
“I didn't know youMore than I knew how to say.””
Evelyn studied his face.
“Then why did you leave me here?””
“I didn't know you existed.””
She looked down at the blanket.
“That's what Ruth said.””
Daniel reached toward existed.””
She looked down at the blanket.
“That's what Ruth said.””
Daniel reached toward her, then stopped when he saw her flinch.
“May I sit beside her, then stopped when he saw her flinch.
“May I sit beside you?””
After a long pause, Evelyn nodded.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
Up you?””
After a long pause, Evelyn nodded.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
Up close, he could see how thin she was. Her sleeves were too short, and the skin close, he could see how thin she was. Her sleeves were too short, and the skin around her wrists bore faint marks that looked like old pressure bruises.
“ around her wrists bore faint marks that looked like old pressure bruises.
“Has someone hurt you?”” he asked gently.
Evelyn glancedHas someone hurt you?”” he asked gently.
Evelyn glanced toward Ruth.
Ruth stepped into the room.
“Don't answer that.””
toward Ruth.
Ruth stepped into the room.
“Don't answer that.””
Daniel rose immediately.
“Get out.””
“This is my house.””
“Not this room.””
Ruth's eyes narrowed.
“You cannot simply walk in here and decide you'reDaniel rose immediately.
“Get out.””
“This is my house.””
“Not this room.””
Ruth's eyes narrowed.
“You cannot simply walk in here and decide you're her savior.””
“I don't need to be her savior to know a her savior.””
“I don't need to be her savior to know a child shouldn't be locked in a room.””
Evelyn grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
“Please don't fight child shouldn't be locked in a room.””
Evelyn grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
“Please don't fight. She gets angry when people fight.””
Daniel crouched beside her again.
“You're not responsible. She gets angry when people fight.””
Daniel crouched beside her again.
“You're not responsible for what the adults do. None of this is your fault.””
for what the adults do. None of this is your fault.””
For the first time, Evelyn began to cry openly.
“I want myFor the first time, Evelyn began to cry openly.
“I want my mother.””
Daniel pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart.””
E mother.””
Daniel pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart.””
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
Then she looked toward the photograph on the wall.
“Mommy said if anything happened to hervelyn wiped her cheeks.
Then she looked toward the photograph on the wall.
“Mommy said if anything happened to her, I should find the man with the silver watch.””
Daniel looked down at his wrist.
His watch had belonged to, I should find the man with the silver watch.””
Daniel looked down at his wrist.
His watch had belonged to his father. He had worn it every day since his wedding to Ada.
“Did his father. He had worn it every day since his wedding to Ada.
“Did she tell you my name?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Daniel.””
She reached she tell you my name?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Daniel.””
She reached beneath her pillow and withdrew a folded piece of paper.
“Mommy said you would know beneath her pillow and withdrew a folded piece of paper.
“Mommy said you would know what this means.””
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a handwritten sentence.
*If Evelyn what this means.””
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a handwritten sentence.
If Evelyn ever comes back to you, ask her about the night ever comes back to you, ask her about the night the nursery caught fire.
His breath stopped.
There had been a fire at the Mercer estate six years earlier.
A small electrical the nursery caught fire.*
His breath stopped.
There had been a fire at the Mercer estate six years earlier.
A small electrical fire in the nursery.
It had happened while Ada was still alive.
Daniel remembered the smoke alarm, the fire in the nursery.
It had happened while Ada was still alive.
Daniel remembered the smoke alarm, the firefighters, and Ruth standing beside him in the hallway, insisting that Lucy had been safely carried outside.
firefighters, and Ruth standing beside him in the hallway, insisting that Lucy had been safely carried outside.
But he'd never known why Ada had been so frightened afterward.
He looked at Evelyn.
But he'd never known why Ada had been so frightened afterward.
He looked at Evelyn.
“What happened that night?””
Evelyn's face crumpled.
“Ruth told me to hide.””
“Where?””
“In“What happened that night?””
Evelyn's face crumpled.
“Ruth told me to hide.””
“Where?””
“In the nursery.””
Daniel felt his blood turn to ice.
“The nursery was on fire?””
Evelyn the nursery.””
Daniel felt his blood turn to ice.
“The nursery was on fire?””
Evelyn nodded.
“She said if I told anyone I was there, she'd send me away forever.””
Daniel turned nodded.
“She said if I told anyone I was there, she'd send me away forever.””
Daniel turned toward Ruth.
For the first time, his wife looked afraid.
Not angry toward Ruth.
For the first time, his wife looked afraid.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Afraid.
And then Evelyn whispered the words that changed everything.
“Mommy didn't die because.
Not offended.
Afraid.
And then Evelyn whispered the words that changed everything.
“Mommy didn't die because she was sick.””
Daniel's knees nearly gave way.
“What do you mean?””
Evelyn looked straight into his eyes.
“Mommy died because she found she was sick.””
Daniel's knees nearly gave way.
“What do you mean?””
Evelyn looked straight into his eyes.
“Mommy died because she found out who started the fire.””
Ruth lunged toward the out who started the fire.””
Ruth lunged toward the paper.
Daniel caught her wrist.
“Don't you dare touch her.””
Ruth struggled against his grip.
“You have no idea what paper.
Daniel caught her wrist.
“Don't you dare touch her.””
Ruth struggled against his grip.
“You have no idea what that girl is capable of!””
Evelyn screamed.
Gloria stepped between them, sn that girl is capable of!””
Evelyn screamed.
Gloria stepped between them, snatching the paper from Daniel's hand.
“That's enough, Ruth.””
Ruth stared at Gloria.
“Youatching the paper from Daniel's hand.
“That's enough, Ruth.””
Ruth stared at Gloria.
“You promised.””
“I promised to protect a child. I never promised to help you destroy another one.””
Daniel released promised.””
“I promised to protect a child. I never promised to help you destroy another one.””
Daniel released Ruth.
He took out his phone and called the estate Ruth.
He took out his phone and called the estate's security manager, ordering him to secure every exit and contact the authorities's security manager, ordering him to secure every exit and contact the authorities.
Ruth watched him with a look of pure hatred.
“You'll regret this, Daniel.””
“.
Ruth watched him with a look of pure hatred.
“You'll regret this, Daniel.””
“Perhaps.””
He turned back to Evelyn.
“But not as much as I'll regret leaving you herePerhaps.””
He turned back to Evelyn.
“But not as much as I'll regret leaving you here another minute.””
As he lifted her carefully into his arms, Evelyn another minute.””
As he lifted her carefully into his arms, Evelyn clung to his shirt.
Then she whispered something into his ear.
Something so clung to his shirt.
Then she whispered something into his ear.
Something so quiet that neither Ruth nor Gloria could hear it.
“There's another quiet that neither Ruth nor Gloria could hear it.
“There's another girl.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
Evelyn pointed toward the greenhouse wall.
“Mommy said girl.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
Evelyn pointed toward the greenhouse wall.
“Mommy said I wasn't the only one Ruth made disappear.””
And somewhere upstairs in the Mercer mansion, a telephone began I wasn't the only one Ruth made disappear.””
And somewhere upstairs in the Mercer mansion, a telephone began ringing.
Gloria's face turned white.
She recognized the number.
It belonged to the private clinic where Ada ringing.
Gloria's face turned white.
She recognized the number.
It belonged to the private clinic where Ada had spent her final days.
And the person calling had been declared dead six years had spent her final days.
May you like
And the person calling had been declared dead six years ago.
ago.
