Chapter 2 - Andrew Ashford
Andrew Ashford was thirty-eight.
Lily’s father.
Widower.
President of Ashford Hospitality.
And according to the household schedule, he was not supposed to return until the following morning.
Anna had worked at the mansion for eighteen months.
She had never seen Lily afraid of him.
Quite the opposite.
Lily ran to him when he came home.
Climbed into his lap during breakfast.
Slept with one of his old shirts when he traveled.
So why did she recoil now?
Andrew entered the hallway.
He stopped when he saw Eleanor, Anna, and the portrait slightly open.
“What’s going on?”
Eleanor stepped between him and the wall.
“Nothing.”
Andrew frowned.
“I heard something.”
Anna watched Lily through the narrow gap.
The child covered her own mouth.
Andrew looked at Anna.
“Why are you standing there?”
Anna lied.
“The hinge got stuck.”
Eleanor glanced at her.
A silent thank-you.
Andrew stepped closer.
“I’ll fix it.”
Eleanor immediately said:
“No.”
Too sharp.
Andrew looked at his mother.
“Why not?”
“Guests are waiting.”
“You’re hiding something.”
Anna’s heart pounded.
Then Lily made a sound.
Barely audible.
Andrew froze.
His eyes moved toward portrait.
“Lily?”
Inside the compartment, Lily began crying.
Andrew surged forward.
Eleanor grabbed his arm.
“Don’t.”
He stared at her.
“My daughter is back there?”
“Andrew—”
He shoved the portrait wide.
Dark compartment.
Lily.
Bound wrists.
Andrew’s face collapsed.
“What the hell?”
He pushed past Anna and reached in.
Lily screamed.
Not words.
Pure terror.
She kicked backward until her shoulders hit wall.
Andrew stopped instantly.
The scream seemed to hurt him physically.
“Lily?”
She shook her head.
Andrew looked at Anna.
“Untie her.”
Anna moved carefully.
Eleanor did not stop her.
Andrew remained several feet away.
“What happened to her?”
No one answered.
Then Lily pointed at him.
Andrew’s eyes widened.
“Me?”
She shook her head.
Pointed at his jacket.
Navy suit jacket.
Then pointed toward the end of hallway.
Andrew looked down at himself.
“I don’t understand.”
Eleanor did.
“Take it off.”
“What?”
“Your jacket.”
Andrew removed it.
Lily stared.
Still frightened.
Then she pointed again.
His wrist.
A silver cufflink.
Oval.
Engraved with an A.
Andrew removed it.
Lily’s breathing slowed slightly.
Anna realized.
Lily was not afraid of Andrew.
She was afraid of someone who dressed exactly like him.
Same jacket.
Same cufflinks.
Same shoes.
Andrew looked at Eleanor.
“Who?”
Eleanor’s face hardened.
Then she answered:
“Your brother.”
Andrew went completely still.
“I don’t have a brother.”
May you like
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“That is what your father made sure you believed.”
