Chapter 6 - What Grace RememberedBy morning, Vanessa had moved into a guest suite on the opposite side of the mansion while Daniel arranged a temporary separation.

He did not trust the situation enough to leave Naomi alone with her.

Grace stayed with Naomi.

At breakfast, Daniel invited them both to sit at the dining table.

Naomi hesitated beside her chair.

"Am I supposed to eat here?"

Daniel pulled it out.

"Yes."

She stared at the porcelain plate and folded napkin.

"Even if Vanessa comes?"

"Even then."

Naomi sat down slowly.

Grace served scrambled eggs, toast, and sliced strawberries.

Nobody rushed her.

Daniel watched his daughter lift her fork, then stop whenever somebody entered the room.

He realized fear had become part of the way she ate.

Later, he asked Grace to speak privately.

They met in the library with the doors open and Naomi safely occupied with a trusted relative, Aunt Ruth, who had arrived that morning.

"Tell me what happened," Daniel said.

Grace sat with her hands folded.

"All of it?"

"All of it."

Grace began with small things.

Vanessa had stopped allowing Naomi to join family dinners when Daniel traveled.

At first, she said the girl needed structure.

Then she restricted snacks.

When Naomi cried, Vanessa called her spoiled.

Staff members were instructed not to challenge household discipline.

Grace had secretly given Naomi food more than once.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Daniel asked.

Grace lowered her eyes.

"I tried."

She took an old phone from her apron pocket.

On its screen were three unanswered messages sent to Daniel's previous number.

Daniel remembered changing phones after a security breach at the company.

Vanessa had managed the household contact list.

Grace continued.

"I also wrote you a letter."

"Where is it?"

"I left it on your desk."

Daniel stared.

He had never seen it.

"The next day, Mrs. Oleso told me I could be charged with theft if I kept interfering."

"What theft?"

"She accused me of taking a diamond bracelet."

"Did you?"

"No, sir."

Daniel believed her.

Grace's voice broke.

"She showed me a photograph of the bracelet inside my cleaning cart."

Daniel looked up sharply.

"Inside your cart?"

"I never saw it there myself. Only the picture."

"Do you still have that picture?"

"She sent it to me."

Grace opened her messages.

The photograph showed an expensive bracelet lying beside folded cleaning cloths.

Daniel enlarged it.

Something bothered him.

There was a reflection in the polished chrome handle of the cart.

A hand holding a phone.

And on that hand was an unmistakable emerald ring.

Vanessa wore the ring almost every day.

Daniel leaned closer.

"Grace, send this to me."

She did.

Then Grace took a breath.

"There's something else."

Daniel looked up.

"The night before Mrs. Amara died, she asked me to bring her a small wooden box."

Daniel's expression changed.

"Amara's jewelry box?"

Grace shook her head.

"No. It was a dark box with a brass lock."

"Where is it?"

"I don't know."

Grace hesitated.

"But Mrs. Amara said something about it."

"What?"

Grace's eyes filled.

"She said, 'If Daniel ever forgets what matters, remind him what we promised our daughter.'"

Daniel closed his eyes.

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He remembered the box.

And he remembered exactly where Amara had hidden it.