Chapter 6 - The Room Grace Locked Before She Died|
Grace Vale had loved old houses.
She said every room held a story.
Sometimes Roman wondered whether that was why she'd married into his family.
She believed even damaged things could become beautiful again.
Now, standing outside her former sitting room, Roman wasn't sure he deserved that kind of faith.
He hadn't opened the door in almost three years.
The room remained untouched.
Books lined the shelves.
A cream-colored sofa stood beneath the window.
A blue ceramic vase sat beside the fireplace.
And on the writing desk rested a photograph of Grace holding Lily as a newborn.
Evie stood behind him.
“Are you sure?”
Roman nodded.
“We need to know.”
He opened the door.
The smell of lavender greeted them.
For a moment, he closed his eyes.
Grace used to burn lavender candles when she read.
He could almost hear her laughter.
Then Evie stepped inside.
Her face changed.
“She used to call me from here.”
Roman turned.
“You spoke often?”
Evie nodded.
“She was worried.”
“About what?”
“The warehouse accounts.”
She approached the desk.
“Grace believed someone was stealing from the family and using the company to move illegal goods.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“Why didn't she tell me?”
Evie looked at him.
“She tried.”
The answer struck harder than he expected.
Roman remembered Grace asking questions about his father's businesses.
He remembered dismissing her concerns.
Telling her to leave the complicated parts to him.
He remembered her expression.
Hurt.
Disappointed.
He'd thought she was upset because he worked too much.
Now he wondered whether she'd been begging him to listen.
Evie opened the top drawer.
Inside were letters, old photographs, and a small jewelry box.
Nothing unusual.
Then she noticed a book on the shelf.
The Secret Garden.
Grace had given Lily a copy for her fourth birthday.
Evie touched the spine.
Roman noticed.
“What?”
“She always said important things should be hidden where nobody thinks to look.”
He frowned.
“Meaning?”
Evie pulled the book from the shelf.
A photograph slipped out.
Grace stood beside a brick building.
Behind her was a faded sign.
NORTHLINE FREIGHT — ARCHIVE STORAGE.
Roman stared.
“That building burned down two years after Grace died.”
Evie's expression changed.
“Burned?”
He nodded.
“Electrical fire.”
She looked down.
“Convenient.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
Then something caught his attention.
On the back of the photograph, Grace had written:
Blue room. Second key. Ask Mercy.
Roman slowly looked toward Evie.
“Blue room?”
She frowned.
“I don't know.”
He stared at the photograph.
Then remembered something.
When Lily was little, Grace had painted a small storage room blue.
It was near the greenhouse.
She called it the treasure room.
Roman hadn't been inside since the renovation.
“Come with me.”
They crossed the estate together.
Outside, the autumn wind carried the smell of wet leaves.
The greenhouse stood beside a small brick outbuilding.
Roman unlocked the first door.
Inside were gardening tools, old furniture, and dusty storage boxes.
At the back stood another door.
Painted faded blue.
Roman stared.
“I forgot about this.”
Evie approached.
There was a second keyhole beneath the handle.
“Do you have the key?”
He shook his head.
Then remembered Grace's jewelry box.
They returned to the sitting room.
Roman opened the box again.
Beneath a velvet lining sat a small brass key.
His breath caught.
He took it.
They returned to the blue door.
The key turned.
Inside was a narrow room filled with shelves.
Old toys.
Gardening supplies.
Photographs.
And a locked metal cabinet.
Roman stared at the cabinet.
A label on the front read:
LILY'S MEMORIES.
Evie felt her throat tighten.
Grace had created a place for her daughter.
A room full of things she wanted Lily to remember.
Roman opened the cabinet.
Inside were children's drawings, birthday cards, and a small stuffed elephant.
Then Evie noticed a sealed envelope.
It was addressed:
FOR ROMAN. WHEN YOU'RE READY TO LISTEN.
Roman went completely still.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a letter.
He read silently.
Then his face crumpled.
“What is it?” Evie whispered.
He looked up.
“Grace wrote this the night before the fire.”
Evie's eyes filled.
Roman continued reading.
Then he stopped.
His voice broke.
“She knew.”
Evie stared.
“Knew what?”
Roman looked toward the letter.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Grace knew someone inside my family was planning to kill her.”
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