I looked at him.
“Will you tell me what happened to Mom?””
He swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Will you tell me why you signed those transfers?””
His gaze dropped.
“I said we’ll talk.””
“Then you can talk to me here.””
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then Eleanor approached and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Amelia, the judges have reached a decision.””
I blinked.
“About the competition?””
“Yes.””
I had almost forgotten the pageant was still happening.
Eleanor turned toward the microphone.
“The final round will continue as scheduled. However, the judges have agreed that Amelia’s design will receive special consideration for originality, craftsmanship, and resilience under extraordinary circumstances.””
Vanessa made a strangled sound.
“You’re rewarding her for making a scene?””
Eleanor’s eyes hardened.
“No. I’m recognizing a designer who transformed damaged materials into something extraordinary. That is precisely what fashion is supposed to do.””
The applause began again.
I looked at the judges’ table and realized something strange.
For the first time that evening, I wasn’t thinking about winning.
I wanted the truth.
When I finally stepped backstage, Rachel hurried toward me with a bottle of water.
“Are you okay?””
“No.””
She nodded as though that were a perfectly reasonable answer.
“Do you need help with your dress?””
I looked down at the blue flowers.
“Just a needle and thread.””
Rachel led me into the dressing room and shut the door.
For a moment, the noise of the auditorium faded.
I sat at the dressing table and examined the dress. The silver paint had dried in uneven patterns, and a few tiny crystals had fallen from the bodice.
My hands began to tremble again.
Not because of Vanessa.
Because I was afraid of what I might discover.
Rachel sat beside me.
“Who was your mother?””
I smiled faintly.
“Catherine. She was the kind of person who saved every ribbon from a birthday present because she believed it might be useful someday.””
“She sounds lovely.””
“She was.””
I touched one of the blue flowers.
“I used to think she was just a woman who liked sewing. Dad said she gave up everything to raise me.””
Rachel tilted her head.
“And now?””
“Now I think she might have built something extraordinary, and someone made sure I never knew about it.””
A knock sounded at the door.
Rachel stood.
“Who is it?””
“It’s Daniel Reeves,” came the reply.
“Amelia, I need to speak with you privately.””
I opened the door.
Daniel stood alone, holding a slim black folder.
“The trustees have authorized a preliminary review of your mother’s estate,” he said.
“But before we proceed, I need to ask you something important.””
“What?””
“Has anyone ever given you a key, a letter, or any other item that belonged to your mother and was supposed to remain in your possession until you turned eighteen?””
I frowned.
“No. Why?””
Daniel opened the folder and removed a photograph.
It showed my mother standing outside a brick building, holding a little girl in her arms.
Me.
I recognized the red coat I had worn when I was five. I remembered the day because Mom had bought me hot chocolate afterward, and I’d spilled half of it on her scarf.
Mais je n’ai pas reconnu le bâtiment.
Derrière nous, une plaque de laiton était fixée à côté de l’entrée.
* CATHERINE LANE DESIGN HOUSE *
J’ai contemplé la photographie.
« Qu’est-ce que c’est que cet endroit ? »
Daniel observait mon visage.
« C’était l’atelier de votre mère. D’après les registres fonciers, elle était propriétaire du bâtiment. Il n’a jamais été vendu, ni transféré à votre père. »
« Alors à qui appartient-il maintenant ? »
Daniel hésita.
« Voilà le problème. La propriété est toujours enregistrée au nom de Catherine Lane, mais quelqu’un paie les taxes et entretient le bâtiment depuis dix-huit ans. »
“OMS?””
Il retourna la photographie.
Au verso, l’écriture de ma mère formait une seule phrase.
Si jamais Amelia vient chercher la vérité, emmenez-la dans la pièce sous l’escalier.
J’ai levé les yeux.
« Il y a une pièce sous l’escalier ? »
Daniel hocha lentement la tête.
« Et le gardien de l’immeuble vient de m’informer que quelqu’un s’y est introduit par effraction ce matin. »
Mon cœur battait la chamade.
« Ont-ils pris quelque chose ? »
Le visage de Daniel s’assombrit.
“Rien dans la chambre.”
Il fit une pause.
« Mais ils ont laissé quelque chose derrière eux. »
“Quoi?””
Il a fouillé dans le dossier et a déposé une petite clé en argent dans ma paume.
Un ruban bleu délavé était noué à sa poignée.
Je connaissais ce ruban.
Ma mère le portait à son poignet le jour de sa mort.
Daniel baissa la voix.
« Amelia, celui qui a cambriolé cet immeuble ne cherchait pas d’argent. »
