Chapter 5 — Someone Inside the House
Clara rushed toward the door.
“It won’t open.”
Juliano tried the handle once.
Then twice.
Locked.
He took out his phone.
No signal.
The west wing had thick stone walls and an old copper lining installed by his grandfather for reasons no one had ever explained.
Clara looked toward the ceiling.
“There’s a service bell.”
She pulled the cord.
Nothing happened.
Juliano scanned the room.
The window was sealed.
The fireplace narrow.
The ventilation grate too small.
“Who knew we were coming here?” he asked.
“No one.”
“Vanessa saw us leave the library.”
“She doesn’t know about this room.”
“You said she knows why I can’t marry her.”
Clara looked at the photograph again.
“I don’t know what that means.”
Juliano opened the dresser drawers.
Clothes.
Medication.
Receipts.
One envelope addressed to Elena Ferraz.
Postmarked three weeks ago.
He tore it open.
Inside was a bank statement.
A private trust account had been sending monthly payments to Clara’s mother for sixteen years.
The account belonged to Juliano’s late father.
Clara read over his shoulder.
Her face went white.
“No.”
“You knew about this?”
“No.”
“This account paid for your mother’s treatment.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Why would my father pay your family?”
Clara shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Juliano looked at the statement again.
The payments had increased after Clara’s brother died.
An ugly possibility formed.
Before he could voice it, footsteps passed outside the door.
Clara pressed both hands to her mouth.
Juliano stepped closer to the wood.
“Who’s there?”
The footsteps stopped.
Then Vanessa’s voice came through the door.
Soft.
Almost amused.
“Juliano?”
He did not answer.
“I know you’re in there.”
Clara gripped his sleeve.
Vanessa continued.
“You always did love locked rooms. Your father did too.”
Juliano’s expression hardened.
“Open the door.”
“Not yet.”
“What do you want?”
“I want Clara arrested.”
“That won’t happen.”
“Then I want her gone.”
“Why?”
A long pause followed.
When Vanessa spoke again, her voice had lost its polished edge.
“Because she isn’t who you think she is.”
Juliano looked at Clara.
Clara shook her head quickly.
Vanessa gave a quiet laugh from the hallway.
“She didn’t come here for a job, Juliano.”
Clara whispered, “Don’t listen to her.”
“She applied six times under three different names.”
Juliano’s gaze settled on Clara’s face.
Vanessa tapped her fingernail against the door.
“She was searching for something.”
Clara stepped away from him.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
She opened her mouth.
But Vanessa spoke first.
“Ask her whose blood is on the ring.”
Juliano looked down at the handkerchief in his pocket.
The diamond ring.
The smear inside the band.
Blood that did not belong to Vanessa.
Clara stared at the pocket.
Then she whispered, “I think it belongs to your mother.”
Outside, Vanessa unlocked the door.
May you like
But when Juliano pulled it open, she was gone.
Only a trail of blood led down the corridor.
