Chapter 3 - WHAT LILY REMEMBERED
Beatrice did not sleep that night.
Neither did Mateo.
At 2:10 in the morning, they sat in the staff kitchen with cold coffee between them.
Mateo spoke first.
“You tell Leo.”
Beatrice shook her head.
“With what?”
“With what you heard.”
“That Victoria said Lily saw something?”
“Yes.”
“And then what?”
Mateo leaned back.
“Leo asks questions.”
“Leo destroys people when he thinks his daughter is threatened.”
Mateo did not deny it.
Beatrice folded her hands.
“I need to know what Lily saw before anyone frightens her into silence again.”
Mateo studied her.
“You think Victoria already did?”
“I think somebody did.”
He stared at his coffee.
“After Sofia died, Lily barely spoke.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Mateo looked at Beatrice.
“You know the version everyone was told.”
She waited.
Mateo lowered his voice.
“The official story was a bombing.”
“Yes.”
“Car bomb outside a restaurant.”
Beatrice nodded.
“Sofia died instantly.”
“That’s what Leo believes.”
Beatrice felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
Mateo looked toward the doorway before answering.
“It means I saw the wreck.”
“And?”
“The damage never made sense to me.”
Beatrice’s stomach tightened.
“You told Leo?”
“I told investigators.”
“What happened?”
“They said I was grieving.”
Mateo laughed without humor.
“People tell you many things when they want you to stop asking questions.”
Beatrice looked upstairs.
“Lily was there?”
“Across the street with her nanny.”
“Why?”
“Sofia was meeting someone privately.”
“Who?”
“Nobody knows.”
A floorboard creaked above them.
Both looked up.
Then a small voice called.
“Bee?”
Beatrice was out of her chair immediately.
Lily stood halfway down the stairs in pink pajamas.
Her stuffed rabbit hung from one hand.
“Bad dream?”
Lily nodded.
Beatrice climbed to her.
“Want some warm milk?”
Another nod.
Mateo rose.
“I’m going to check the cameras.”
He passed Lily.
She looked at him.
“Uncle Mateo?”
“Yeah, bug?”
“Was Mommy scared of fire?”
Mateo stopped.
Beatrice’s breath caught.
Mateo crouched.
“Why are you asking?”
Lily hugged the rabbit.
“I remembered.”
Beatrice looked at Mateo.
He looked back.
“Remembered what?”
Lily’s eyes filled.
“The red car.”
Mateo’s face changed.
“What red car?”
Lily covered her ears.
“I don’t want to.”
Beatrice stepped between them.
“That’s okay.”
Mateo started to speak.
Beatrice gave him a warning look.
He stopped.
She sat on the stairs beside Lily.
“You don’t have to tell us anything.”
Lily sniffed.
“Victoria says memories lie.”
Mateo’s jaw hardened.
Beatrice stayed calm.
“When did Victoria tell you that?”
“A long time.”
“How long?”
Lily shrugged.
“Before she was Daddy’s girlfriend.”
Silence.
Mateo stood slowly.
Beatrice felt every hair on her arms rise.
“Lily.”
Her voice remained gentle.
“How did you know Victoria before she was Daddy’s girlfriend?”
Lily stared at the stuffed rabbit.
“She came to Mommy’s car.”
Mateo turned pale.
“What?”
Beatrice touched his arm.
“Let me.”
He stepped back.
Beatrice looked at Lily.
“Was Mommy in the car?”
Lily nodded.
“Where were you?”
“With Miss Anna.”
The former nanny.
“Across the street?”
“Yes.”
“What did Victoria do?”
Lily squeezed the rabbit.
“She was mad.”
“Did you hear what they said?”
“No.”
“Did you see anything?”
A long pause.
Then Lily whispered.
“Victoria gave Mommy an envelope.”
Beatrice’s heart hammered.
“What happened next?”
Lily’s breathing grew faster.
“Mommy saw me.”
She swallowed.
“She looked scared.”
“Then?”
“The red car came.”
Mateo moved closer despite himself.
Lily’s eyes widened.
“The man got out.”
“What man?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you see his face?”
Lily shook her head hard.
“He had a hat.”
Beatrice rubbed her back.
“It’s okay.”
Lily began crying.
“Mommy ran toward me.”
Then she stopped.
Her entire body stiffened.
“What happened?”
Beatrice whispered.
Lily looked at her.
“The car exploded.”
Mateo closed his eyes.
Beatrice held Lily.
“You’re safe.”
“No.”
Lily shook her head.
“No, Bee.”
“What?”
Lily pointed up the stairs.
“She said I’m not safe if I remember.”
Mateo’s hand went toward the gun beneath his jacket.
Beatrice grabbed his wrist.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Lily.”
Beatrice continued softly.
“Who said that?”
The child’s answer was barely audible.
“Victoria.”
A door closed somewhere upstairs.
May you like
Mateo and Beatrice both looked toward the sound.
Then the mansion lights went out.
