Chapter 5 - Why Walter Really Disappeared

We reached the estate after dark.

Thomas Arden was gone.

Celeste was still in the library.

The room looked untouched.

That made me more nervous than broken furniture would have.

Adrian entered first.

“What happened?”

Celeste stood beside the desk.

Her burgundy gown was gone.

She wore black trousers and one of Adrian’s old sweaters.

The engagement ring was not on her hand.

“My father asked for the ledger.”

“Did you give it to him?”

“No.”

“Did he threaten you?”

She hesitated.

Walter entered behind us.

Celeste looked at him.

“He reminded me what happened in March.”

Adrian turned.

“What happened in March?”

Walter closed the door.

“It’s time.”

He sat down slowly.

“I found the false panel in Victor’s study because one hinge on the bookcase had been replaced.”

Adrian frowned.

“You noticed a hinge?”

“I ran this house for forty-one years.”

That almost made Adrian smile.

Almost.

Walter continued.

“Inside were the cassette, the copied ledger, and a note from Victor telling me where to look if Thomas ever tried to move against you.”

“What note?”

Walter reached into his coat.

He unfolded a page I had never seen.

Victor’s handwriting.

Adrian did not touch it yet.

Walter read aloud.

“If Arden starts paying Malloy again, the old arrangement is alive. Do not confront him alone.”

Adrian looked at the invoice records.

“He started paying Malloy again after my father died.”

“Yes.”

“So why wait nine years?”

“Because I didn’t see the note until March.”

Walter’s face tightened.

“The false panel had jammed. I only opened it because the carpenter was repairing the shelves.”

Celeste took over.

“My father found out Walter had been in the study.”

“How?”

“I told him.”

Adrian looked at her.

She did not hide.

“I thought Walter had found something about me.”

“What about you?”

Her eyes filled.

“The guest list.”

The one Victor mentioned on tape.

She sat across from Adrian.

“When I was twenty-one, my father told me Victor was trying to shut him out of the east docks. He asked me for the guest list from a private meeting.”

“You gave it to him.”

“Yes.”

“I already know that.”

“I didn’t know why he wanted it.”

Adrian’s voice stayed flat.

“And after the fire?”

“I knew it mattered.”

“Yet you kept it from me for nine years.”

“Yes.”

She looked at Walter.

“When he found the panel, I panicked. I called my father.”

Walter nodded.

“Thomas sent two men that night.”

Adrian’s eyes went cold.

“To kill you?”

“I don’t know.”

Walter did not dramatize it.

That made it worse.

“They entered my room. One had a syringe. I did not wait to learn what it was for.”

Celeste whispered, “I had already opened the greenhouse gate.”

Adrian turned to her.

“You helped him escape.”

“Yes.”

“Then told me he stole from us.”

“My father called me before sunrise. He said if Walter came back, someone else in this house would disappear.”

Her eyes moved toward me.

My stomach dropped.

Adrian saw it.

“Mara?”

Celeste nodded.

“He knew she had brought tea into the library.”

I stopped breathing for a second.

Walter looked at me.

“That is why I left without saying goodbye.”

I stared at him.

“You knew?”

“Celeste told me.”

“And neither of you thought I deserved to know?”

Walter’s face softened.

“No.”

He did not defend himself.

“We thought keeping you ignorant kept you safe.”

I looked at Celeste.

“That’s what you told Adrian too.”

She flinched.

Because it was true.

Adrian sat down.

For the first time, all four of us were angry for the same reason.

Everyone had decided someone else could not handle the truth.

Walter continued.

“For the first month, Celeste sent money through a friend. Enough for motels and medicine.”

Adrian looked at her.

“You protected him.”

“At first.”

Walter nodded.

“Then I found Samuel.”

Celeste lowered her eyes.

“And Walter told me he was coming back.”

“When?”

“Two months ago.”

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“Before I proposed.”

“Yes.”

“Why ask him to wait?”

She took a long breath.

“Because I had spent nine years telling myself I had protected you.”

A tear slid down her cheek.

“Then I realized if Walter returned, I would have to admit the truth.”

“You chose the wedding.”

“Yes.”

The answer was immediate.

No excuse.

No age.

No father.

Just yes.

Adrian looked at the empty place on her hand.

“Where’s the ring?”

“Upstairs.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t get to wear it while asking you to believe me.”

Walter looked at Adrian.

“That is the truth about my disappearance.”

Adrian said nothing.

Celeste stood.

“There’s one more thing.”

Of course there was.

But this time she did not bring a new secret.

She brought a choice.

“My father thinks the original ledger is at Harbor Crown.”

Walter nodded.

“He should.”

“I told him I would get it tomorrow.”

Adrian looked up.

“Why?”

“Because if he believes I’m still afraid of him, he’ll show us what he’s afraid of.”

Adrian’s expression changed.

“No.”

Celeste stared.

“What?”

“I’m done letting people I care about walk into danger because they think I need protecting.”

He looked at Walter.

Then me.

Then Celeste.

“We do this legally.”

Celeste gave a tired laugh.

“My father doesn’t respect legal.”

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Adrian picked up his phone.

“Then he can learn.”