Chapter 2 - The Nanny Who Knew Too Much
Adrien watched Elena for the rest of the morning.
He didn't confront her.
Not yet.
Instead, he watched.
She moved through the kitchen like someone who knew the house.
She knew which cabinet contained Sophie's favorite cereal.
She knew the bedroom thermostat was too low.
She knew Sophie hated orange juice with pulp.
And when Sophie scraped her knee in the garden, Elena reached into a drawer and pulled out a tiny white medical kit.
Adrien stared.
“How did you know that's there?”
Elena looked at him.
“Sophie told me.”
“Sophie doesn't know.”
The child's voice came from behind them.
“I do.”
Adrien turned.
Sophie was holding her stuffed fox.
“Mommy used to keep it there.”
Elena smiled.
“Your mother taught you well.”
Adrien's eyes narrowed.
Elena realized her mistake.
She lowered her gaze.
“I mean—Sophie said.”
He said nothing.
That afternoon, Adrien called Marcus again.
“Watch Elena.”
Marcus nodded.
“Discreetly?”
“Very.”
“And Sophie?”
“No one gets close to my daughter without me knowing.”
Marcus hesitated.
“You trust her?”
Adrien looked through the office window.
Elena was sitting on the floor in the living room, helping Sophie build a cardboard castle.
“No.”
But he knew that wasn't entirely true.
He trusted her with Sophie.
He didn't know why.
That frightened him more than suspicion.
At dinner, Sophie insisted Elena sit with them.
Adrien almost refused.
Then he saw his daughter's face.
So he agreed.
Elena sat three seats away.
Sophie talked continuously.
She told Elena about school.
About her favorite horse.
About a dream she had where butterflies lived inside the walls.
Adrien barely spoke.
Then Sophie asked the question that changed the room.
“Elena, did Mommy ever tell you about the blue room?”
Elena's fork stopped.
Adrien looked up.
“What blue room?”
Sophie frowned.
“The room upstairs.”
“There is no blue room,” Adrien said.
Sophie shook her head.
“Yes, there is.”
Adrien looked at Elena.
She was pale.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Mommy told me.”
Adrien's chair scraped the floor.
“When?”
“Before she died.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“What did she say?”
Sophie looked at her.
“She said, if Daddy ever forgets, tell him about the room.”
Adrien stared.
Clare had never mentioned a blue room.
Not once.
After dinner, he went upstairs.
He searched the entire second floor.
Four bedrooms.
Two bathrooms.
A study.
A nursery.
A storage room.
No blue room.
Then Elena entered.
“You need to stop.”
Adrien turned.
“Stop what?”
“Looking for it.”
“What do you know?”
“I know there is a room.”
“Where?”
“Behind the library.”
He stared.
“The wall is solid.”
“It isn't.”
Adrien approached her.
“Explain.”
Elena took a breath.
“Clare showed it to me.”
Adrien's heart stopped.
“When?”
“Three months before she died.”
His voice dropped.
“How did you know Clare?”
Elena looked down.
“I was her assistant.”
Adrien stared.
“My wife never had an assistant named Elena.”
“She didn't.”
“Then what were you?”
Elena looked at him.
“A person she trusted.”
“That doesn't answer anything.”
“No.”
“Why didn't she tell me about you?”
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Elena didn't answer.
Adrien stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
“She was afraid someone in this house was going to kill her.”
Silence.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect you to investigate.”
Adrien looked at her.
“Why come here now?”
“Because I couldn't reach you any other way.”
“You could have called.”
“You changed your number.”
“I changed it after Clare died.”
“I know.”
The room became colder.
Adrien whispered:
“You've been watching me.”
“No.”
“Sophie called you Mommy.”
“That wasn't planned.”
“Then what was planned?”
Elena hesitated.
“Keeping Sophie alive.”
Adrien's expression changed.
“Why wouldn't she be alive?”
Elena looked toward the hallway.
“Because someone has been trying to finish what they started.”
Adrien felt anger rise.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how can you protect her?”
“I know where the threat comes from.”
“Where?”
“The house.”
His jaw tightened.
“You think someone here is dangerous.”
“I know someone here is dangerous.”
Before he could respond, a sound came from the library.
A heavy click.
They turned.
Elena grabbed Adrien's arm.
“Don't.”
He pulled away.
“I don't take orders in my own house.”
He opened the library door.
Everything looked normal.
Books.
Desk.
Fireplace.
Paintings.
Then Sophie called from the stairs.
“Daddy?”
He turned.
“Go back to your room.”
“No.”
She walked into the library holding the stuffed fox.
“I know where the blue room is.”
Adrien crouched.
“Where?”
Sophie pointed to a painting.
“Behind Mommy's flowers.”
Adrien moved the painting.
Nothing.
Elena stepped forward.
“Turn it clockwise.”
He did.
A click.
The bookcase shifted.
Adrien froze.
A hidden passage appeared.
Sophie smiled.
“See?”
He looked at Elena.
“How did my daughter know?”
“She remembered.”
The three of them entered.
The hidden room was painted blue.
Inside were boxes.
Photographs.
Documents.
And a small desk.
On the desk was a handwritten note.
Adrien picked it up.
His hands shook.
It was Clare's handwriting.
Adrien,
If you're reading this, the plan failed.
Don't trust the people who tell you my death was an accident.
And if Elena has reached Sophie, listen to her.
She knows what I couldn't tell you.
Adrien stared at Elena.
“She knew you would come.”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she trusted me.”
“What plan?”
Elena's eyes filled.
“Clare was preparing to leave you.”
Adrien froze.
“What?”
“Not because she stopped loving you.”
“Then why?”
“She discovered something.”
“What?”
Elena looked at the photographs.
“Someone was stealing from your company.”
Adrien frowned.
“I audited everything.”
“Not everything.”
“What did she find?”
“A secret division.”
He stared.
“There is no secret division.”
“There is now.”
Elena handed him a photograph.
A warehouse.
Whitmore Holdings.
Adrien knew the company.
A competitor.
He studied the image.
“Why does this matter?”
“Because Clare was there the night she died.”
His heart pounded.
“Who took her?”
Elena shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Then what do you know?”
“I know she called me.”
“When?”
“The night she died.”
Adrien stopped.
“What did she say?”
Elena looked down.
“She said, 'If anything happens to me, take Sophie to my sister.'”
Adrien went still.
“Clare had no sister.”
Elena looked at him.
“She did.”
A sharp pain struck his chest.
“What?”
“She had a younger sister.”
“Where is she?”
“Elena Ruiz.”
Adrien stared.
The room seemed to spin.
“You.”
May you like
She nodded.
“I am Clare's sister.”
