Chapter 3 - Twenty-Four Roses
Twenty-four roses had a meaning Ethan never told Claire.
On his final anniversary with Rachel, he bought twenty-four red roses.
They argued before he could give them to her.
Rachel had accused him of hiding financial problems involving Carter Family Foundation.
Ethan accused her of distrusting everyone.
She drove away.
Hours later, police reported crash.
The roses remained on kitchen counter through night.
After funeral, Ethan threw them away.
Now someone had recreated bouquet.
Twenty-four roses.
Black wrapping.
Cream ribbon.
Even florist choice was same small shop Rachel had used for years.
But Ethan had ordered current bouquet himself.
Why?
Because that day would have been Rachel’s forty-second birthday.
He had planned to place roses at memorial garden after dinner.
Claire knew he still marked date.
She never objected.
So mystery was not whom Ethan bought flowers for.
He had bought them for Rachel’s memory.
Mystery was why another woman secretly altered bouquet to match night Rachel died.
Police questioned florist.
Woman had replaced standard ribbon and asked for one unusual addition:
a single artificial rose hidden among real ones.
Police recovered bouquet from laundry corridor.
Twenty-three real roses.
One artificial.
Inside artificial stem was tiny brass key.
Stamped:
H-14.
Eleanor saw it.
Her composure vanished.
“Where did you get that?”
“Inside flowers.”
“That key should have been destroyed.”
Ethan stared.
“What does H-14 open?”
Eleanor refused.
Claire whispered:
“Halcyon.”
Ethan turned.
“What is Halcyon?”
Neither answered.
Then Rebecca Hale regained consciousness.
Detective allowed Ethan only a brief supervised conversation.
“Do you know me?” he asked.
Rebecca studied him.
“Yes.”
“Did you know Rachel?”
Her eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Why were you inside my house?”
Rebecca looked toward detective.
“I came willingly.”
Ethan froze.
“You were locked in a room.”
“Not by Claire.”
“By Eleanor?”
Rebecca closed eyes.
“I can’t answer that.”
“Why did you say roses?”
“Because Rachel told me if Ethan ever walks through that door carrying twenty-four red roses again, it means someone has restarted Halcyon.”
Ethan leaned closer.
“Rachel died eight years ago.”
Rebecca looked at him.
“No, Ethan.”
He stopped breathing.
Rebecca continued:
“Rachel disappeared eight years ago.”
May you like
Then she whispered:
“And your mother helped her do it.”
