Chapter 3 - The Room That Had Been Locked for Nine Years.
The Orchid Room had not been opened since the week Eleanor disappeared.
It was on the third floor of Ashford House, at the end of a corridor Victoria rarely used.
When they were children, it had been their mother's morning room.
After their mother died, Eleanor turned it into a place for painting, reading, and hiding from family arguments.
Malcolm had ordered it sealed after Eleanor vanished.
He said preserving the room would only encourage Victoria's obsession.
Victoria had hated him for saying it.
Then she had obeyed him anyway.
That memory burned now.
She took Lily upstairs with two security officers and Mrs. Whitmore, the housekeeper who had served the family for thirty years.
Daniel followed despite Victoria telling him to remain with the guests.
Malcolm was kept downstairs.
At least, that was the order.
The old brass key slid into the Orchid Room lock.
It turned smoothly.
Mrs. Whitmore covered her mouth.
"That lock was changed after Miss Eleanor left."
Victoria stared at her.
"By whom?"
The housekeeper's eyes shifted toward Daniel.
"Mr. Malcolm arranged it."
The door opened with a low groan.
Dust covered the furniture.
Dried orchids remained in white ceramic pots.
A half-finished painting leaned against the far wall.
Lily walked directly to it.
The painting showed the same lake as the photograph.
She touched the canvas.
"Mom painted this place."
Victoria's throat tightened.
"Yes."
"She said it was the last place she was happy."
That sentence hurt more than Victoria expected.
At the back of the room stood an antique writing desk.
The second key fit its lowest drawer.
Inside were bundles of envelopes tied with blue ribbon.
Every envelope was addressed to Eleanor.
Every return address belonged to Victoria.
None had been opened.
Victoria picked up the first letter.
The postmark was eight years old.
Then seven.
Then six.
She found birthday cards, Christmas cards, legal notices, and handwritten pleas begging Eleanor to call her.
Someone had collected years of Victoria's attempts to find her sister and hidden them in a locked room.
Lily watched her silently.
"You really wrote to her?"
Victoria looked at the child.
"Every month for three years."
Lily's eyes filled with confusion.
"Mom said you never answered."
"I thought she never answered me."
Daniel picked up one envelope.
"This proves someone interfered, but not who."
Victoria snatched it from his hand.
"Don't touch anything."
His face changed.
Just slightly.
But she saw the irritation.
Mrs. Whitmore suddenly called from the desk.
"Miss Victoria."
She had found a ledger beneath a false wooden panel.
The first pages contained household expenses.
The later pages contained bank transfers.
Millions of dollars had moved from an Eleanor Ashford family trust into shell companies Victoria did not recognize.
Each transfer carried an authorization code belonging to the trust executor.
Malcolm Ashford.
Daniel went pale.
Lily tugged Victoria's sleeve.
"There was a man at our apartment with that name."
"Malcolm?"
Lily shook her head.
"No."
She pointed at one of the shell companies.
VALE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT.
Everyone turned toward Daniel.
May you like
Before he could speak, the Orchid Room door slammed shut behind them.
Then the lights went out.
