Chapter 5 - Tessa
Hadrian's house had twelve employees.
Only one matched the age.
Tessa Monroe.
Twenty-seven.
Sorrel's former weekend caregiver.
Hadrian had fired Tessa six months earlier after Aurelia accused her of stealing jewelry.
Tessa denied it.
Hadrian believed Aurelia.
Now he felt sick.
Police located Tessa in Boston.
She returned voluntarily.
Hadrian apologized before asking anything.
“I failed you.”
Tessa studied him.
“Yes.”
No easy absolution.
He respected that.
Tessa was Clara's daughter.
She knew.
She also knew Evelyn.
Evelyn had secretly paid for her college.
Why?
Because after Clara disappeared, Evelyn felt responsible for Tessa.
Not because Evelyn harmed Clara.
Because they had been investigating the Northwood files together.
Tessa accepted work in Hadrian's house after Evelyn died because she wanted to remain near Sorrel.
“Why Sorrel?”
Tessa's eyes softened.
“Your wife asked me to.”
Before Evelyn died, she made Tessa promise:
If anything ever feels wrong around Sorrel, don't assume Hadrian will see it immediately.
Hadrian looked away.
That sentence hurt because it was fair.
He traveled.
Worked.
Trusted.
And confused providing with noticing.
Then Tessa explained the jewelry accusation.
She hadn't stolen anything.
Aurelia planted a bracelet in her bag.
Why?
Tessa had caught Aurelia searching Evelyn's dressing room.
Tessa threatened to tell Hadrian.
Aurelia removed her first.
Hadrian asked:
“Why didn't you call me?”
“I did.”
“No.”
“Six times.”
Hadrian checked old records.
Calls had been blocked.
Not by him.
Aurelia had access to the household communications system.
She had blocked Tessa's number.
Then Tessa handed Hadrian something.
The second shackle.
CLARA CROSS.
Aurelia didn't possess it.
Tessa did.
Meaning Aurelia had lied to Margaret.
Where had Tessa found it?
Inside Evelyn's safety-deposit box.
Along with a sealed document.
Evelyn's handwriting:
If Hadrian ever sees both cuffs together, tell him to compare the serial numbers.
Hadrian placed the two restraints side by side.
Evelyn's:
NR-2187.
Clara's:
NR-2188.
Sequential.
Then Tessa showed him an old Northwood inventory sheet.
2187 — Evelyn Mercer.
2188 — Clara Cross.
Hadrian frowned.
Evelyn Mercer?
His wife's maiden name was Evelyn Hart.
Tessa whispered:
May you like
“No.”
“It wasn't.”
