Chapter 9 - The Tiny Door
That evening, Mara obtained a warrant to search the nursery and the laundry room. Graham walked beside her, carrying the old brass key to Ellie's room. Lena came because Ellie had asked her to explain where to look.
The dollhouse sat beneath the window, painted blue with white shutters. Dust lay on the roof, but the furniture inside was arranged exactly as Claire had left it.
Graham ran his thumb over the miniature staircase.
“I told Claire I was too busy to help build it,” he said. “She said Ellie wouldn't care if the stairs were crooked.”
Lena pointed at the tiny kitchen. “Ellie said there was a little door.”
Behind the toy refrigerator, Mara found a loose panel. Inside lay a photograph of Claire holding baby Ellie, a brass storage key, and a piece of paper folded into a square.
Graham unfolded the note with trembling fingers.
If you're reading this, someone finally listened. Don't trust the financial reports. Find Locker 14. Keep Ellie away from Elliot.
Claire's handwriting.
Graham sat down on the nursery floor.
The note wasn't proof of murder. It didn't tell him what had happened on the night Claire died. But it proved she'd been frightened enough to leave a warning inside a child's toy.
A sharp electronic chime sounded from the hallway.
“System alert,” the security manager said over Mara's radio. “Someone just disabled the main cameras.”
Then every light in the nursery went out.
May you like
From the landing came a man's voice, low and familiar.
“Graham? We should talk before you open that locker.”
