Chapter 7 - Why Alexander Knew the Maid

Everyone looked at me.

I looked at Dominic.

“I have never met your father.”

Marcus did not look convinced.

Elena did.

“She is telling the truth.”

Dominic asked:

“Why does he know her?”

No answer.

Then Edwin sat down.

Slowly.

Dominic noticed.

“Edwin.”

The old stationmaster looked at me.

“Your mother worked here.”

I stared.

“What?”

“My mother was a nurse.”

“She was.”

“Then what?”

“Before that.”

Silence.

Edwin continued.

“She worked ticketing.”

My stomach tightened.

“Name?”

“Margaret Cole.”

I knew that.

He nodded.

“Before marriage, Margaret Marsh.”

I stared at him.

Marsh.

His surname.

Edwin looked at me.

“I am your great-uncle.”

Silence.

I laughed.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“My mother never mentioned you.”

“She was told not to.”

Dominic looked at Edwin.

“By who?”

“Alexander Vale.”

I stopped breathing.

Edwin continued.

“Your mother saw Elena the night she tried to leave.”

Elena stared.

“What?”

“Yes.”

“She was working the platform.”

Elena shook her head.

“I do not remember her.”

“She gave you the envelope.”

Elena froze.

“What envelope?”

Edwin looked at Dominic.

“The original copies.”

Elena stared.

Then memory reached her.

“A young woman.”

Edwin nodded.

“She hid them in your suitcase after railway police searched you.”

Elena looked at me.

My mother had protected her.

Dominic asked:

“What happened afterward?”

Edwin answered:

“Alexander found out.”

My face went cold.

“He threatened her?”

“Yes.”

“She left railway work.

Changed cities.

Became a nurse.”

I looked at him.

“And you let me think you were just some retired stationmaster.”

Edwin’s eyes filled.

“I promised Margaret.”

“She died seven years ago.”

“I know.”

“You could have told me.”

“Yes.”

Dominic almost laughed.

Another promise.

Another lie.

Edwin handed me a folded card.

My mother’s handwriting.

ANNA MUST NEVER WORK FOR A VALE.

I stared.

Then looked at Dominic.

He looked equally shocked.

“I hired through an agency.”

I nodded.

“I applied randomly.”

Marcus shook his head.

“No.”

Everyone looked at him.

He took out his phone.

Then showed us an old personnel request.

Requested employee:

ANNA COLE.

Approved by:

ALEXANDER VALE.

Eight months ago.

Before Dominic met Cassandra’s wedding planner.

Before the engagement dinner.

Dominic stared.

“My father placed Anna in my house.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Marcus looked at me.

“Because your mother left something.”

I felt sick.

“What?”

“Alexander has been looking for it for twenty years.”

Elena whispered:

“The original ledger.”

Edwin nodded.

My mother had taken one ledger from the station.

Not copied.

Original.

Dominic stared at me.

“Do you have anything from her?”

“A box.”

“Where?”

“My apartment.”

We went there immediately.

Small apartment.

Third floor.

Nothing special.

I pulled the box from the top of my closet.

Letters.

Photographs.

Nursing pins.

Then Edwin noticed the bottom.

False panel.

I had never seen it.

Underneath:

A thin black ledger.

Elena stopped breathing.

“That is it.”

Dominic opened it.

Names.

Payments.

Dates.

Alexander Vale.

James Reed.

Vincent Vale.

Marcus Vale.

And many others.

Marcus stared at his own name.

Dominic looked at him.

“You said you inherited part.”

“I did.”

The entries began when Marcus was eighteen.

Payments authorized by Alexander.

Then later by Marcus.

Dominic turned pages.

Then stopped.

One payment.

To:

ANNA COLE EDUCATION TRUST.

I stared.

“What?”

Marcus looked at Alexander’s signature.

Then at Edwin.

Edwin shook his head.

“I did not know.”

Dominic frowned.

“My father paid for Anna’s college?”

I stared.

I had received a scholarship.

Anonymous donor.

Marcus said:

“He was watching her.”

“Why fund her?”

No answer.

Elena turned the page.

A note.

KEEP CLOSE. SHE MAY HAVE MARGARET’S COPY.

Dominic’s expression hardened.

“He did not help me.”

I whispered.

“He invested in finding the ledger.”

Marcus nodded.

Then headlights flashed outside.

Three cars.

Edwin looked through the blinds.

“Too late.”

Dominic took the ledger.

Marcus pulled a gun.

Elena grabbed my arm.

“Back stairs.”

But the building entrance opened.

Footsteps.

Then a knock.

Three times.

Dominic stood behind the door.

A man’s voice:

“Anna Cole?”

I froze.

Federal badge slid under the door.

Agent Peter Sloan.

Marcus looked at Elena.

She went pale.

Dominic noticed.

“You know him.”

Elena whispered:

“He was the contact waiting for me in Canada twenty years ago.”

Silence.

Dominic stared.

“You said he died.”

Elena looked at James.

James went white.

Agent Sloan knocked again.

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

“I suggest you do not trust James Reed.”

James closed his eyes.