Chapter 6 - A Whispered Warning
The bright red and blue police strobe lights flashed wildly through the tall foyer windows.
Clara stood frozen at the top of the grand marble staircase, clutching toddler Toby tightly against her chest.
"Put your hands where we can see them!" the police officer at the bottom of the stairs barked through a megaphone.
Clara felt the cold, sticky weight of the bloody knife resting inside her right jacket pocket.
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she realized how completely she had been framed.
Suddenly, a frail hand reached out from the dark alcove beside the landing and yanked Clara into the shadow.
It was Mrs. Gable, her usually cold face filled with urgent, desperate fear.
"Don't say a word," the housekeeper whispered, pulling Clara into a secret servant panel behind the wall.
The hidden wooden door clicked shut just as three officers rushed up the main stairs.
"Why are you helping me?" Clara asked, her voice trembling in the pitch-black passage.
Mrs. Gable thrust an old brass key with a cracked leather tag into Clara’s palm.
"Because you're the first nanny who actually tried to save those boys," Mrs. Gable said softly.
"The previous five didn't pack up and leave in the middle of the night like Mr. Morrison told the press."
"What happened to them?" Clara demanded, staring into the old woman's pale eyes.
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"They found out what is behind the wall in the east wing," Mrs. Gable whispered, her breath smelling of bitter almonds.
"And none of them ever walked out of this front gate alive."
