Chapter 6 - Someone Put the Photograph There
Two months later, O’Leary Family Bakery was three weeks from reopening.
Then Mara received another photograph.
It was waiting on Daniel's desk.
Same original image.
Different handwriting across the back.
Ask him who put this in the folder.
Mara found Daniel in the library.
“Did you put my photograph in that folder?”
“No.”
“Did Lucas?”
“We assumed so.”
“Assumed?”
Daniel took the photograph.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get this?”
“Your desk.”
He immediately called security.
The estate went into lockdown.
Nobody had entered Daniel's office without authorization.
Except one person.
Evelyn Price.
The estate manager arrived five minutes later.
She looked at the photograph.
Then closed her eyes.
“I wondered when you'd figure it out.”
Mara stared.
“You?”
Daniel's voice turned cold.
“Explain.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I put the original photograph in your folder.”
“Why?”
“Because you wouldn't stop trusting Lucas.”
Daniel froze.
Evelyn continued.
“Your father suspected Lucas before he died.”
“You knew?”
“I knew he was investigating someone close to you.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“After the funeral. Lucas intercepted everything.”
Daniel looked shaken.
Evelyn turned to Mara.
“Patrick contacted me shortly before his death. He said if anything happened to him, I should protect his family.”
Mara whispered, “You knew my father?”
“He supplied pastries for Carter events for years.”
“Then why let our bakery close?”
Evelyn's eyes filled with regret.
“I didn't know Voss had returned until I saw you on the employment list.”
Mara stared.
“You hired me?”
“Yes.”
“I thought the agency sent me randomly.”
“I requested you.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“You manipulated both of us.”
“Yes.”
“Why not simply tell me?”
“Because Lucas was watching you.”
Evelyn looked toward the office.
“I needed Daniel to discover the connection himself.”
Mara folded her arms.
“So Biscuit stealing the folder?”
Evelyn almost smiled.
“That part was entirely Biscuit.”
Daniel exhaled.
Mara began laughing.
He stared at her.
“What?”
“All this happened because your dog has no respect for privacy.”
Biscuit trotted into the library carrying a sock.
Mara pointed.
“See?”
Daniel suddenly laughed too.
Evelyn watched them.
For several seconds, the mansion sounded unlike the Carter estate anyone remembered.
Then Daniel became serious.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes?”
“You should have trusted me.”
“I know.”
“And I should have noticed Lucas.”
“You were grieving.”
Daniel looked toward Mara.
“No more secrets.”
Mara raised an eyebrow.
“That's ambitious for your profession.”
He smiled.
“Fewer secrets.”
“Better.”
Evelyn headed toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Mr. Carter?”
“Yes?”
“I've worked for this family twenty-three years.”
Daniel waited.
“I haven't heard you laugh like that since before Anna died.”
Daniel said nothing.
Evelyn left.
Mara quietly approached.
“You loved her.”
“Very much.”
“I’m not trying to replace anybody.”
His eyes met hers.
“I know.”
“Good.”
She started walking away.
“Mara.”
She turned.
Daniel looked unusually uncertain.
“The bakery opening.”
“What about it?”
“Would it be inappropriate if I came?”
She smiled.
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Whether you're planning to terrify the customers.”
“I can stay in the corner.”
“With Biscuit?”
“No.”
May you like
“Then you're invited.”
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