Chapter 6: The Face at the Stairs
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at my son.
“My mother?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“She was standing at the top of the stairs.””
“That’s impossible.””
“My grandmother died when I was sixteen.””
“I know.””
“She couldn't have been there.””
I stepped back.
The detective watched us carefully.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“I know how it sounds.””
“You were dreaming.””
“I wasn't.””
“You were twenty-four.””
“I was awake.””
“Daniel…”
“I remember her face.””
I shook my head.
“My mother had been dead for eight years.””
Daniel looked at the photograph in my hand.
“Then who was that woman?””
I couldn't answer.
Detective Harris took the photograph from me.
“This woman?””
“Yes.””
He studied it.
“Do you recognize her?””
“No.””
Daniel pointed.
“Look at her bracelet.””
I leaned closer.
Silver.
With a small blue stone.
My breath caught.
“I've seen that.””
“Where?””
“At my husband's funeral.””
Detective Harris immediately pulled out his phone.
“I'll run the image through facial recognition.””
I shook my head.
“What if she isn't in the system?””
“Then we'll find another way.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Mom, what was Grandma's name?””
“Eleanor.””
“Did she have a sister?””
I frowned.
“Not that I know of.””
“An older sister?””
“No.””
He pointed at the photograph.
“Because that woman looks like you.””
I looked again.
She did.
Same eyes.
Same jawline.
Same narrow nose.
I suddenly remembered something my mother had once told me.
A story from childhood.
She had said she had a sister who died young.
But she had never shown me a photograph.
I had forgotten the name.
Until now.
“Rose.””
Daniel looked at me.
“What?””
“Her name was Rose.””
Detective Harris looked up.
“Rose Carter?””
I nodded.
“My mother mentioned her once.””
“Where was she buried?””
“I don't know.””
“Do you know when she died?””
“No.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Why would someone who looked like Grandma be at Dad's funeral?””
“I don't know.””
A sound came from the monitor.
Beep.
All three of us turned.
The security feed had changed.
A hallway.
The hotel's third floor.
A woman walked slowly toward the camera.
Long dark coat.
Silver bracelet.
Blue stone.
I stopped breathing.
“That's her.””
Detective Harris reached for his radio.
“Lock down the third floor.””
The woman stopped beneath the camera.
Then she looked directly into it.
She lifted one finger to her lips.
And smiled.
The screen went black.
Daniel whispered, “She's here.””
Detective Harris drew his weapon.
“Stay behind me.””
I grabbed Daniel's hand.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“What?””
“We need to leave.””
“Why?””
“Because this is exactly what she wants.””
The detective looked at me.
“She's trying to lure us upstairs.””
“Not us.””
I pointed at Daniel.
“Her.””
We heard footsteps in the hallway.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The detective moved toward the door.
Daniel whispered, “Mom…”
“Stay here.””
The footsteps stopped.
Silence.
Then the door handle moved.
Once.
Twice.
The detective raised his weapon.
The door opened.
A woman stood there.
She looked like my mother.
Older.
Paler.
But unmistakably related.
She smiled at me.
“Hello, Evelyn.””
Daniel stepped backward.
“Grandma?””
The woman laughed.
“I've been waiting years for you to say that.””
Detective Harris ordered her to put her hands where he could see them.
She obeyed.
Slowly.
“Who are you?”” he demanded.
The woman looked at me.
“You already know.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
She smiled.
“Your mother didn't tell you.””
“My mother is dead.””
The woman's expression softened.
“Your mother died believing she had protected you.””
I felt a chill.
“Who are you?””
“Rose.””
Daniel stared.
“Rose Carter?””
She nodded.
“My sister.””
I could barely speak.
“My mother said you died.””
“She wanted you to believe that.””
“Why?””
Rose looked at the photograph.
“Because she knew what your father had done.””
Detective Harris stepped forward.
“What did he do?””
Rose looked at him.
“He found out who I really was.””
Daniel frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Rose's eyes moved toward him.
“Your father was investigating your mother's family.””
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“My family had nothing to do with his death.””
Rose smiled sadly.
“That’s what Eleanor wanted you to believe.””
My mother's name sounded strange coming from her.
“What did Dad find?””
Rose hesitated.
Then she reached inside her coat.
Detective Harris immediately raised his weapon.
“Slowly.””
Rose removed a small envelope.
She handed it to him.
“Open it.””
He did.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
He read silently.
His expression changed.
“What?”” Daniel asked.
The detective handed the letter to me.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
My husband's.
My hands trembled as I unfolded it.
The first line read:
*Evelyn, if you are reading this, then Rose failed to stop them.*
I looked at Rose.
“What does this mean?””
She whispered:
“Your husband knew he was going to die.””
I continued reading.
*There is only one person I trust with Daniel.*
I looked at the next line.
My heart stopped.
Because the name he had written wasn't mine.
It wasn't Rose.
It wasn't anyone in our family.
It was Jessica Miller.
Daniel saw the name.
“No.””
Rose looked at him.
“She wasn't your enemy.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Then why did she frame my mother?””
Rose's eyes filled with tears.
“Because she was trying to keep you alive.””
I shook my head.
“She tore her dress.””
“She had to.””
“She lied.””
“She had to.””
“She accused me.””
Rose stepped closer.
“Because Melissa was watching.””
The room fell silent.
Detective Harris looked up.
“Where is Melissa now?””
Rose's expression changed.
She looked at the security monitor.
Then at Daniel.
“She isn't coming for Evelyn.””
Daniel whispered, “Then who?””
Rose answered:
“You.””
At that exact moment, Daniel's phone rang.
The screen showed Jessica's name.
He answered.
“Jessica?””
Her voice came through, frantic and breathless.
“Daniel, listen to me. Don't trust Rose.””
Rose closed her eyes.
Jessica continued:
“She isn't your aunt.””
Daniel stared at Rose.
“Then who is she?””
There was a long silence.
Then Jessica whispered:
“She's the woman who killed your father.””
The call went dead.
May you like
Rose's face became completely expressionless.
And Detective Harris slowly raised his weapon toward her.
