Chapter 9 - The Winter Garden Trap.
The Beaumont's winter garden occupied a glass-roofed courtyard behind the old ballroom.
At that hour, it was closed to guests.
Victoria ignored Marcus's order to wait for police.
She walked through the service corridor alone.
At least, she appeared to be alone.
Marcus and the security team followed through an adjoining passage after Victoria refused to leave Lily in danger for another minute.
The winter garden was dim and humid.
Palm leaves cast moving shadows across white stone paths.
At the center fountain stood Lily.
A man held her by the shoulder.
Daniel.
His tuxedo had been replaced by a dark coat.
The black handbag hung from his other hand.
Lily's face was furious rather than frightened.
"Let her go."
Victoria's voice echoed beneath the glass roof.
Daniel looked exhausted.
"You should have stayed at the hotel suite."
"You should have told me my sister was alive."
He flinched.
"I tried to protect you."
Victoria almost laughed.
"By helping Malcolm imprison Eleanor?"
"You don't understand what he can do."
"Then explain it."
Daniel looked toward the doors.
"He has judges, doctors, accountants, people on the board."
"And you."
Daniel lowered his eyes.
That answer was enough.
Lily suddenly kicked his shin.
Daniel instinctively released her.
She ran to Victoria.
Victoria pulled her behind her body.
Daniel did not chase them.
Instead, he held up the handbag.
"Malcolm thinks the original trust document is inside this."
"Is it?"
"I don't know."
He threw the bag across the stone floor.
Victoria caught it.
"Why bring Lily here?"
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Because Malcolm ordered me to deliver her."
"To whom?"
"A transport team from St. Agnes."
Lily whispered,
"The van people."
Daniel looked at her with shame.
"I wasn't going to do it."
Victoria's anger exploded.
"You already did it to her mother."
Daniel had no answer.
Then the outer doors crashed open.
Two men in medical uniforms entered pushing a wheelchair.
One carried a black case.
Daniel swore.
"They're early."
Victoria backed away with Lily.
The men claimed to have an emergency medical order.
Marcus stepped from the side corridor with security.
The situation changed instantly.
One of the men ran.
The other dropped the case.
Inside were syringes, restraints, and paperwork bearing Lily's name.
Police arrived minutes later.
Daniel sat on a stone bench, staring at the floor.
He knew he was finished.
Victoria crouched beside Lily.
"Did he hurt you?"
Lily shook her head.
Then she opened the handbag herself.
The photograph and letter were still there.
She pulled out the photograph.
"Mom said there were two pictures."
Victoria frowned.
"There's only one."
Lily pressed the cardboard backing.
A hidden layer separated.
A second photograph slid free.
It showed a much younger Malcolm standing beside the lake house with Daniel and a man Victoria recognized immediately.
The third man was Dr. Stephen Kessler, the director of St. Agnes.
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On the back, Eleanor had written a date.
The night of the fire.
