Martha’s squeaky voice brought her attention back to her daughter. Where was the spitfire who gave the museum director a piece of her mind?
“Jacob Duncan isn’t worthy of you.”
Martha bolted from her chair. Ah, good. The fire in her eyes was back. “But he couldn’t have killed anyone. He couldn’t have!”
Silly child. “Of course he didn’t.”
A gasp sounded behind her. “What do you mean ... he didn’t? If not Jacob, thenwhokilled my William?”
Victoria swirled on Lily Rose.“Youare not supposed to be here.”
Her daughter’s companion surged into the room. “Answer the question, Victoria. You told me it was Jacob. That you had proof. That there was a witness. Who. Killed. William?”
With a glance over her shoulder to her daughter, Victoria lifted her chin. She might as well start with Martha’s training right now. “I did.”
“Mother! Howcouldyou?” The scream left Martha’s lips as Lily Rose ran toward Mother, her hands raised to strike.
“Not another step, Lily Rose.” The shiny glint of a knife appeared in Mother’s hand. “Unless you want to join your beloved William.”
Lily Rose looked toward Martha, her eyes pleading for help.
“Mother, don’t you dare hurt Lily Rose. She’s done nothing to you.” Martha moved across the room until she stood in front of her longtime companion. And just like that, everything made sense.
Her friend’s reactions to Jacob... the foul moods... the tears she’d seen Lily Rose shed on so many occasions the past few weeks.
She’d lost someone she loved.
Sobs erupted from Lily Rose behind Martha.
“Why did you kill him? He was a good man. He was building up his mercantile in Castle Rock so we could marry. What could he have possibly done to you?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. I haven’t taken over my family’s business without a few casualties along the way.”
Martha’s eyes fixed on the knife in Mother’s hand. She held the weapon with too much ease.
“Now ... Martha, you need to help your friend pack. She’s going far away and will not return under any circumstances. Understood? Otherwise, she will have to be eliminated as well.”
Eliminated? Is that how she saw Lily Rose ... as someone to eliminate?
“Did you hear me, young lady?” Mother made her way to the door. “Don’t make me say it again.”
Lily Rose pushed forward again. “The police chief is on his way, Victoria. You won’t get away with this.” Tears streaked her face.
The laugh from her mother was ... hideous. “I own him, Miss Ducasse. Don’t think for an instant that you have any power here. Now, if you value your life, you’ll leave.” And with that, she headed out of the room. “Meet me in my office in an hour, Martha. No arguments.” The command echoed through the doorway.
Martha waited several seconds and then ran over to the door and shut it.
“What are we going to do?” Lily Rose’s strangled cry about broke her heart.
Her mother was... a monster!
Martha shook her head. No, she couldn’t allow herself to think about that right now. They had to figure out how to stop Mother and how to save Jacob. And she knew exactly what to do. “We are going to pray.”
Lily Rose frowned. “Martha—you know I don’t believe—”
She grabbed her friend’s hands. “We’re going to pray. We need all the help we can get.” With a deep breath, she closed her eyes. “God, I don’t even know what to say, but You know everything. We need help. Please guide the way. Calm our hearts. Lily Rose needs Your healing after such a loss. Andplease ... spare Jacob.” A sob clawed its way up her throat. She released Lily Rose.
Her friend stood looking at her. “I’m so sorry, Martha. I shouldn’t have listened to her, but after losing William, I was a wreck, and she was so convincing.” She gulped. “William and I... we were hoping to get married next summer.” She sank onto the bed and cried.
