Chapter 4 - The Second Locket
Phoebe would not read either engraving aloud.
Not yet.
Daniel nearly lost patience.
Then stopped himself.
Rebecca had built deliberate sequence.
Why?
Because names without context could destroy innocent people.
So they cataloged first.
Locket One: Emma’s.
Locket Two: Margaret’s metal box.
Same goldsmith.
Same year.
Serial numbers consecutive.
A matched pair.
Inside second locket:
No photograph.
A tiny curl of blonde hair tied with blue thread.
Claire stared.
“My mother used blue thread.”
Daniel looked at her.
“For what?”
“She embroidered everything.”
Weak clue.
But clue.
Then Margaret’s executor found receipt.
Two lockets purchased by Rose Hayes.
Twelve years earlier.
Rose.
Rebecca’s aunt.
The missing woman.
Why buy two?
One for herself?
One for Evelyn?
Then bank records showed Rose withdrew $40,000 three days after hospital date.
Afterward she disappeared.
Police report from family claimed voluntary departure.
Margaret had signed it.
Daniel stared.
“Rebecca’s mother lied about her own sister?”
Maybe.
Then Phoebe found Rebecca’s private investigation.
Rose did not disappear.
She changed surname.
To Hall.
Rebecca located a Rose Hall in Arizona nine years later.
Then correspondence stopped.
No proof same person.
Daniel hired investigator.
Rose Hall existed.
Age matched.
Former hospital lab technician.
Alive.
She refused phone call.
But when investigator mentioned locket, she said:
“Which girl has it?”
Which girl.
Not which person.
Daniel flew to Arizona with Phoebe.
Claire demanded to come.
Daniel refused.
“You're part of question.”
That hurt.
But appropriate.
Rose Hall lived in modest home outside Tucson.
Seventy.
Sharp eyes.
She looked at Daniel and said:
“You got old.”
He stared.
“We've met?”
“You held baby while I took photograph.”
Daniel’s skin went cold.
“Whose baby?”
Rose smiled sadly.
“That is exactly wrong question.”
Then she explained photograph.
Twelve years earlier, Daniel attended Mercer Foundation event at St. Matthew’s.
During event, a newborn needed temporary holding while nurse handled emergency.
Daniel volunteered.
Someone photographed.
Nothing sinister.
Baby was not his.
The inserted woman Evelyn stood beside him because she worked records.
So photograph itself had been repurposed later.
By whom?
Rose.
“Why?”
“To create insurance.”
Against what?
Rose refused until Daniel produced both lockets.
He placed them on table.
She saw second.
Her face changed.
“Margaret kept it.”
“What do they mean?”
Rose turned one over but did not read engraving.
“Rebecca was supposed to destroy these.”
“She didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Rose looked at him.
“Because she discovered Claire.”
Daniel went still.
“What about Claire?”
Rose answered:
“Claire wasn't supposed to marry you.”
That sounded like destiny nonsense.
Daniel rejected it.
Rose clarified:
“Not because of blood.”
Good.
“Because Evelyn made me promise her daughter would never enter the Mercer family.”
“Why?”
Rose looked toward lockets.
“Because Evelyn believed one of these names belonged to someone the Mercers had already destroyed.”
Then Rose gave Daniel an envelope.
Rebecca had mailed it years ago.
Instruction:
Give Daniel only if he arrives with both lockets.
Inside:
Two birth certificates.
Same baby.
Same birth date.
Different mother names.
Daniel stared.
One mother:
Evelyn Bennett.
May you like
The other:
Rebecca Hayes.
