Chapter 6 - NOAH REMEMBERED
Martin Shaw had worked for the Walker family for fourteen years.
He had carried Noah out of the hospital after Celeste died.
He had stood beside Adrian at Charles Walker's funeral.
He had been trusted with every key in the estate.
Now Noah was afraid of him.
"What did Mr. Shaw do?"
"No."
Emma rubbed his back.
"You don't have to talk if you don't want to."
Adrian forced himself to stay calm.
A minute later Noah whispered, "He took Mommy box."
"What box?"
Noah made a square with his hands.
"Red. Mommy box."
Emma's eyes widened.
"Celeste had a red document case."
"You knew about it?"
"She kept letters in it."
He had seen that case once, near the end of Celeste's pregnancy.
"When did Shaw take it?"
Noah could not understand the question.
But he pointed upstairs.
He reached underneath.
His tiny hand found a strip of loose fabric.
Emma began crying.
"She hid it here."
A number was stamped into the metal.
314.
Gabriel stared at it.
"Train station lockers."
Victoria appeared in the nursery doorway.
"You are not taking that child anywhere."
"I wasn't asking."
"You have no idea what you're doing."
"For the first time, I think I do."
That reaction told Adrian more than any confession.
"You know what it opens."
"Adrian, listen to me."
"No."
He handed Noah to Emma.
"We leave now."
Before they reached the stairs, every light in the mansion went out.
A second later, the security doors locked with a heavy metallic click.
Adrian pulled out his phone.
No service.
Then the intercom crackled overhead.
Martin Shaw's voice filled the house.
May you like
"Put the key on the floor, Mr. Walker."
Noah began to scream.
