Chapter 1 - The Uninvited Guest
I stared at the tip of my right shoe, waiting for the miracle to happen twice.
It remained perfectly still.
The little girl, Lily, tilted her head and studied my face with wide, curious eyes.
Her brother grabbed her arm, his hands trembling so violently that I could hear his jacket rustle.
He tried to pull her toward the glass doors, desperately whispering that they needed to run.
Before they could take a single step, the heavy oak doors of the winter garden flew open.
A woman in a gray maid's uniform rushed into the room, her face pale with absolute terror.
She fell to her knees, pulling both children into her arms and burying her face in their shoulders.
Please forgive them, Mr. Marino, she begged, her voice shaking with fear.
She explained that she was a new hire and the children had slipped away while she was cleaning the east wing.
My head of security, Vance, stepped forward and placed his hand on the handle of his weapon.
He asked me if he should take them down to the holding cells for questioning.
I did not answer him immediately.
I was too busy looking at the maid's face as she slowly looked up at me.
Her hair was darker, her face was thinner, and she wore no makeup, but I never forget a face.
Eight years ago, she was the emergency room nurse who handed me the death certificate for my wife.
I raised my hand, signaling Vance to step back and leave his weapon holstered.
I told the woman to send the children to the kitchen for ice cream, but she was going to stay right here.
She swallowed hard, nodding as her hands gripped the fabric of her uniform.
Once the children were escorted out, I leaned forward in my wheelchair.
I asked her why the nurse who pronounced my wife dead was now scrubbing my floors.
May you like
She looked me dead in the eyes and whispered a sentence that made my blood run cold.
She told me my wife never died in that hospital room, but someone else definitely did.
