CHAPTER 2 — THE SECRET IN THE KITCHEN
CHAPTER 2 — THE SECRET IN THE KITCHEN
Margaret closed the kitchen door behind her.
Her heart was pounding.
She looked at the phone in her hand for several seconds before finally pressing a number she had not called in years.
The call connected.
"Hello?"
Margaret swallowed.
"It's me."
There was silence on the other end.
Then a man's voice answered.
"Margaret?"
"Daniel, you need to listen to me."
Her voice shook.
"Something has happened."
Daniel had once been a police officer. He had left the force after an accident that changed his life, but Margaret still trusted him more than anyone else.
"What happened?"
"There's a little girl here."
Margaret glanced toward the dining room.
"Her name is Lily."
Daniel became silent.
"Who is she?"
"Emma Carter's daughter."
The silence became even heavier.
Daniel knew that name.
Everyone in the neighborhood did.
Emma Carter had disappeared three months earlier.
The official story was that she had abandoned her daughter and left town.
But Daniel had never believed it.
Emma had been his neighbor.
He remembered seeing her walk Lily to school every morning.
He remembered the way the child held her mother's hand.
A mother like that didn't simply disappear.
"What are you telling me?" he asked.
"She's here with Victoria Harrington."
Daniel immediately understood.
"Are you sure?"
"I've seen enough."
Margaret lowered her voice.
"Victoria is humiliating her. She made the child eat from a pet bowl."
Daniel cursed under his breath.
"Is Lily hurt?"
"I don't know. She looks terrified."
"Call the police."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because Victoria knows everyone."
Margaret's voice cracked.
"If I make a report and nothing happens, I'll lose my job. And Lily will be alone with her."
Daniel paused.
"Margaret, listen to me. Don't confront Victoria. Stay near the girl."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm coming."
Margaret ended the call.
When she returned to the dining room, the situation had changed.
Victoria was standing beside Lily.
The little girl was still crying.
But the silver bowl had been pushed away.
"Stand up," Victoria ordered.
Lily obeyed.
"Go wait in the hallway."
Lily hesitated.
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Now."
The child walked away.
Clara watched her disappear through the doorway.
She wanted to follow.
Instead, she looked at Margaret.
Margaret gave her a tiny nod.
Clara understood.
She followed Lily.
She found the girl standing alone near the service corridor.
Lily wiped her cheeks with both hands.
"Are you okay?" Clara whispered.
Lily didn't answer.
Clara crouched down.
"You don't have to be afraid of me."
Lily looked at her.
Her eyes were enormous.
"Are you going to tell her I cried?"
"No."
"Are you going to hurt me?"
Clara's heart broke.
"No, sweetheart."
Lily stared at the floor.
"Everybody says they're nice."
Clara didn't know what to say.
Then Lily whispered something that made Clara's blood run cold.
"My mommy didn't leave me."
Clara looked around.
"What?"
"My mommy didn't leave."
Lily's voice trembled.
"She told me to remember a blue door."
Clara frowned.
"A blue door?"
Lily nodded.
"Before she disappeared, she said if anything happened, I should find the house with the blue door."
Clara felt a chill move down her spine.
"Do you know where it is?"
Lily shook her head.
"But Mommy gave me something."
She reached into the pocket of her dress.
Her fingers closed around a small folded piece of paper.
Clara stared at it.
"What is that?"
"My mommy said never give it to Victoria."
Before Lily could unfold it, footsteps approached.
Victoria.
Clara quickly stood.
Lily shoved the paper back into her pocket.
Victoria appeared at the end of the corridor.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Why are you talking to her?"
Clara forced a smile.
"I was just checking if she needed anything."
"I didn't ask you to."
Victoria walked toward them.
Lily immediately stepped behind Clara.
Victoria noticed.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Lily."
The child didn't move.
"Come here."
Lily remained still.
Victoria's voice became colder.
"Now."
Clara looked at Lily.
Then she saw something.
A tiny tear rolling down the child's cheek.
Clara made her decision.
"Mrs. Harrington," she said, "the manager needs you."
Victoria turned.
"He does?"
"Yes."
For a moment, Victoria studied her.
Then she walked away.
Clara waited until she disappeared.
"Listen to me," she whispered.
"Keep that paper safe."
Lily nodded.
"And don't trust anyone who tells you your mother abandoned you."
Lily's eyes widened.
"You believe me?"
Clara smiled sadly.
"Yes."
At that exact moment, the restaurant's front doors opened.
Daniel walked in.
He wasn't wearing a police uniform.
But he carried himself like someone who had spent years protecting people.
His eyes immediately searched the room.
Then he saw Lily.
The child looked at him.
And something about his face made her feel safe for the first time in months.
Daniel walked toward them.
"Are you Lily?"
She nodded.
"I'm Daniel."
Lily whispered, "Do you know my mommy?"
Daniel's expression softened.
"I did."
Lily stepped closer.
"Is she alive?"
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
He didn't want to give her false hope.
But he also knew that Emma's disappearance had never been properly investigated.
"I don't know," he finally said.
Lily looked down.
"She told me she'd come back."
Daniel crouched beside her.
"Then we're going to find out what happened."
Behind them, Victoria was watching.
And she had heard every word.
Her face became completely expressionless.
Then she reached into her handbag.
She pulled out her phone.
And made a call.
"He's here," she whispered.
"The man who knows about Emma."
She paused.
"Yes."
May you like
Her eyes remained fixed on Daniel.
"Get rid of him."
