Chapter 6 - The Woman Lily Saw
A four-year-old’s memory required caution.
Victor did not immediately decide Catherine was alive.
Investigators showed Lily photographs separately.
Catherine.
Mara.
Eleanor.
Other women.
Lily repeatedly selected Catherine.
But photograph she had seen around mansion could influence recognition.
Then Lily described detail not visible in family photographs.
“The lady had white line here.”
She touched left wrist.
Catherine had surgical scar there from accident at twenty-two.
Victor had never discussed it around Lily.
Daniel sat down.
“When did Lily go upstairs?”
Two days earlier.
Daniel believed she was napping.
Lily apparently followed someone into hallway.
She said “hungry lady” gave her bread and told her to go downstairs.
Was woman Catherine?
Or someone resembling her?
Room showed recent use.
Plate.
Water.
Blanket.
Then DNA from water bottle returned.
Female.
Familial match to Eleanor.
Victor stared.
Catherine was not related to Eleanor.
So bottle could not be Catherine’s.
Who was?
Eleanor had one known daughter.
Rebecca Hale.
Victor and Daniel’s younger sister.
Rebecca died twelve years earlier from leukemia.
Confirmed death.
No resurrection.
Then DNA relationship estimate suggested:
daughter or granddaughter of Eleanor.
Could be contaminated sample?
Second test confirmed.
Victor looked at mother.
“Who else is there?”
Eleanor closed eyes.
“My daughter.”
Daniel whispered:
“Rebecca is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then who?”
Eleanor looked toward Room 17.
“Rebecca wasn't my only daughter.”
Silence.
Victor felt anger rise.
“Who?”
“Anna.”
Eleanor had given birth at seventeen before marrying Arthur.
Baby girl was adopted privately.
Arthur knew.
Victor and Daniel never did.
Decades later Arthur located Anna while reviewing family medical history.
He supported her discreetly.
Eleanor did not want adult children knowing.
Why?
Shame initially.
Then inheritance concerns.
But Anna had no automatic claim to Arthur’s estate because she was not Arthur’s child.
This wasn't about magical inheritance.
Anna wanted relationship.
Eleanor refused.
Arthur kept helping.
Catherine discovered Anna through Seventeen Fund because Arthur improperly routed some personal support through foundation administration.
That was accounting irregularity Catherine found.
$2.8 million was not all Anna’s.
Only about $410,000 over years related to housing, education and medical assistance for Anna and her child.
Still improper use if misclassified.
So who had Lily seen upstairs?
Possibly Anna.
Age now forty-eight.
Could resemble Eleanor, perhaps Catherine only superficially.
But Lily insisted photograph.
Then Anna’s name appeared in visitor log from two days earlier.
She had been in Room 17.
Why?
May you like
Eleanor whispered:
“Because she came back with something Catherine left her.”
