Chapter 14 - THE MUSIC BOX
Malcolm had escaped police custody during transport.
Two officers had been paid to help him.
He returned to the Callahan estate before anyone realized he was gone.
Lily had gone there with a family protection officer to retrieve the music box.
The officer was now unconscious in the front hall.
Malcolm had Lily inside Claire’s old bedroom.
Nadia and I arrived with Detective Ellis.
The estate was dark.
Rain struck the windows.
The gala decorations remained downstairs.
Champagne glasses still covered the tables.
Flowers had begun to wilt.
The house looked like the remains of a beautiful lie.
Malcolm’s voice came through the intercom.
“Emma enters alone.”
Mara shook her head.
“No.”
“He has Lily.”
“We follow you through the service hallway.”
I carried Renata’s flash drive in my pocket.
The real drive was already with the police.
The one I carried was empty.
I entered the bedroom.
Malcolm stood near the fireplace.
Lily sat on the floor beside him.
The broken music box rested in her lap.
“Give me the drive,” Malcolm said.
“Let her go.”
“You are not in a position to negotiate.”
I held up the flash drive.
“This is everything Renata kept.”
Malcolm’s eyes followed it.
“Slide it across the floor.”
“Lily comes to me first.”
He smiled.
“You really believe you are important now.”
“I’m important to her.”
Lily looked at me.
That was enough.
Malcolm pushed her forward.
“Go.”
Lily ran toward me.
I pulled her behind my body.
Then I slid the fake drive across the carpet.
Malcolm picked it up.
He inserted it into a laptop.
The screen remained empty.
His face changed.
“You lied.”
“So did you.”
He raised his gun.
Lily lifted the music box.
She turned the moon-shaped handle four times.
A hidden panel opened beneath it.
A tiny memory card fell into her palm.
Malcolm stared.
“Give that to me.”
Lily closed her fist.
“No.”
His face twisted with rage.
“You are exactly like your mother.”
He stepped toward her.
I blocked him.
“You already killed Claire.”
“You’re not touching Lily.”
Malcolm struck me across the face.
I fell against the bed.
Lily screamed.
Mara and Nadia rushed through the service door.
Malcolm grabbed Lily.
He pressed the gun against her side.
“Stay back!”
Lily began singing Claire’s song.
“Little star, little light.”
Malcolm tightened his hold.
“Stop.”
“Keep the truth where hearts can hide.”
“Stop singing!”
Lily looked directly into his eyes.
“My mommy wasn’t afraid of you.”
Malcolm’s hand shook.
Grant’s voice came from the doorway.
“Neither am I.”
He stood there in a hospital gown beneath an open coat.
A bandage covered his chest.
Two officers supported him.
Malcolm stared at his nephew.
“You should be dead.”
“You tried twice.”
Grant stepped into the room.
“Let my daughter go.”
Malcolm moved toward the balcony.
Rain blew through the open doors.
“You don’t deserve this family.”
“You destroyed it.”
“No.”
Grant looked at Lily.
“I stopped listening.”
“That ends tonight.”
Malcolm dragged Lily onto the balcony.
His foot slipped on the wet stone.
Lily broke free.
Malcolm fell over the railing.
Grant lunged forward and caught his wrist.
Malcolm hung above the terrace.
“Pull me up!”
Grant looked down at the man who had murdered his wife.
For one terrible moment, I thought he might release him.
Then Grant tightened his grip.
“I am not you.”
The officers pulled Malcolm to safety.
They handcuffed him on the balcony floor.
Lily ran into Grant’s arms.
She placed the memory card in his hand.
“This is Mommy’s voice.”
Grant closed his fingers around it.
“No.”
May you like
He kissed her forehead.
“This is yours.”
