PAGE 3 — THE STRANGER

The man’s name was Daniel Carter.

He introduced himself as an attorney.

He said Edward had contacted him several weeks earlier.

Thomas immediately became suspicious.

“You expect me to believe my father invited you here tonight?”

Daniel calmly removed a letter from his coat.

“This is from your father.”

Thomas grabbed it.

He read the first few lines.

Then his expression changed.

“What does this mean?”

Daniel looked at Eleanor.

“It means your husband knew something was going to happen.”

Eleanor’s face went pale.

“What?”

Daniel continued.

“He instructed me to come here tonight if he disappeared.”

Charlotte stepped closer.

“Disappeared?”

Daniel nodded.

“He believed someone in this house was trying to kill him.”

Everyone looked at everyone else.

Thomas’s hand moved toward his belt.

“Who?”

Daniel shook his head.

“He didn’t say.”

Ruth watched silently.

She knew more than she was saying.

Because two nights earlier, Edward had come to the kitchen after midnight.

He had looked terrified.

He had locked the door behind him.

Then he had told Ruth something she would never forget.

“Someone has been stealing from this family.”

Ruth had asked who.

Edward had shaken his head.

“I don’t know yet.”

Then he had handed her the brass key.

“If anything happens to me, you must protect this.”

“What does it open?”

“The truth.”

She had asked him where the lock was.

Edward had only whispered:

“The second floor.”

Ruth had searched the second floor that night.

There were twelve rooms.

Eleven were ordinary.

One was painted blue.

But she never found the lock.

And now Edward was missing.

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