Chapter 4: The Girl at the Old Lake House
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Lucas Bennett had just told me that the two-year-old girl I had pulled from a swimming pool wasn't Savannah's biological daughter.
And now that same little girl was missing.
I looked at Olivia.
"Did you hear that?""
She had been watching my face.
"Who was he talking about?""
"Grace.""
I grabbed my coat.
"He says she's at an old lake house.""
Olivia immediately stood.
"Then call the police.""
"I will.""
I dialed Officer Brooks while walking toward the bakery entrance.
He answered after the second ring.
"Brooks.""
"It's Hannah Miller. Grace Whitmore is missing.""
His voice changed instantly.
"Where are you?""
I explained what Lucas had told me.
When I mentioned the lake house, he asked me to repeat the address.
"I don't have it. Lucas didn't tell me.""
"Did he say who was with the child?""
"No.""
"Stay where you are. Do not approach that property alone.""
I agreed.
But as soon as I ended the call, another message appeared.
This time, it came from Lucas.
*Old Bennett Lake House. North entrance. Come alone. Grace is frightened.*
I showed it to Olivia.
She shook her head.
"Absolutely not.""
"I know.""
"Then why are you looking at your keys?""
Because I remembered Grace's little fingers gripping my jacket.
Because I remembered her crying when Ethan reached for her.
And because I couldn't stop thinking about the way she had whispered my name before someone took the phone away.
I called Officer Brooks again.
He told me a patrol unit was being dispatched.
Then I sent him the location.
Olivia insisted on coming with me.
We drove toward the lake house, keeping the police informed of our route.
The property stood about forty minutes outside the city.
It had belonged to Ethan's grandfather, according to something Ethan had mentioned during one of Savannah's prenatal appointments.
The road was narrow.
Snow covered the trees.
And the closer we came to the lake, the fewer houses we passed.
When the old wooden building finally appeared, I understood why Lucas had chosen it.
It was isolated.
The windows were dark.
A single vehicle stood beside the entrance.
Lucas's black SUV.
Olivia parked behind it.
"Wait for the police," she whispered.
I nodded.
We remained inside the car for several minutes.
Then the front door opened.
Lucas appeared.
He looked exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled, and his eyes were red.
"Hannah.""
"Where's Grace?""
"Inside.""
"Is she okay?""
"She's cold. She hasn't stopped asking for you.""
I opened the door.
Olivia caught my wrist.
"Don't go in until the officers arrive.""
Lucas heard her.
"You're wasting time.""
"Then tell us what's happening," I said.
He looked toward the road.
"Please. Just come inside.""
I took one step forward.
Then stopped.
"Why did you tell me Grace wasn't Savannah's daughter?""
Lucas's face tightened.
"Because it's true.""
"Who is her mother?""
He looked at the ground.
"Her name was Emily.""
"Was?""
Lucas closed his eyes.
"She's dead.""
The word settled between us.
I stared at him.
"What does Savannah have to do with that?""
He opened the door wider.
"Everything.""
I entered.
The house smelled of dust, wood smoke, and something sweet.
A small artificial Christmas tree stood in the corner.
Its lights were on.
Beneath it sat Grace.
She was wearing pink pajamas and holding a stuffed rabbit.
When she saw me, she dropped it.
"Hanna!""
She ran toward me.
I knelt and caught her.
Her little arms wrapped around my neck.
I closed my eyes.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
She began crying.
I checked her temperature with the back of my hand and examined her breathing.
She was cold, but alert.
"Have you eaten?"" I asked Lucas.
"Some crackers and milk.""
I looked at him sharply.
"How long has she been here?""
"Since early this morning.""
"Why?""
He didn't answer.
Grace held my hand.
Then she pointed toward the kitchen.
"Mommy.""
My heart stopped.
"Which mommy, sweetheart?""
She looked toward Lucas.
He turned away.
I stood slowly.
"Lucas, start talking.""
He walked to the fireplace.
"Emily Bennett was my sister.""
I looked at him.
"Your sister?""
"She died three years ago. Car accident. Grace was only a few months old.""
He swallowed.
"Emily was married to Ethan.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Ethan was married to your sister?""
Lucas nodded.
"Before Savannah.""
The pieces began moving in my mind.
Grace was Ethan's biological daughter.
Emily was her mother.
Savannah was his second wife.
But that didn't explain the gift.
Or the messages.
Or why Savannah had pushed the child into the pool.
"What happened after Emily died?""
Lucas stared into the fire.
"Ethan couldn't handle being a single father. Savannah was already involved in his life. She helped with Grace, and eventually they married.""
"How long after Emily's death?""
"Eleven months.""
I looked at Grace.
She was sitting on the rug, arranging the buttons on her rabbit's coat.
"And Savannah adopted her?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
Lucas hesitated.
"Because Ethan never completed the paperwork. Emily's family had concerns. They wanted Grace to remain connected to them.""
"Then why does Savannah behave as though she's her mother?""
"Because she wanted everyone to believe it.""
I folded my arms.
"Why?""
Lucas looked directly at me.
"Because she has spent three years trying to erase Emily.""
He reached into his coat and removed a photograph.
It showed a young woman holding a baby.
The woman had brown hair and the same hazel eyes as Grace.
I understood immediately.
"Emily?""
He nodded.
"That was taken shortly before she died.""
I studied the photograph.
Then I noticed something written on the back.
To my little Grace. Never let anyone make you forget where you came from.
My throat tightened.
"Is that what was inside the Christmas present?""
Lucas nodded.
"Emily's family sent it every Christmas. Savannah always intercepted the packages.""
"Then why was Grace carrying one?""
"Because this year, I made sure she received it.""
I looked at him.
"You gave it to her?""
"Yes.""
"And Savannah saw?""
He nodded.
"She took it away from Grace. I tried to stop her. We argued. Then she told me she would make sure Grace never saw Emily's family again.""
"That still doesn't explain the pool.""
Lucas's face became pale.
"She didn't mean to kill her.""
I stepped closer.
"Don't make excuses.""
"I'm not.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
He looked at Grace.
"She pushed her because she was angry. I saw it. I was coming back from the kitchen when she shoved her.""
"Why didn't you help?""
His eyes filled.
"I froze.""
I stared at him.
"You watched a two-year-old fall into a swimming pool.""
"I know.""
"You watched me jump in.""
"I know.""
"And then you let Ethan hit me.""
Lucas looked down.
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
He finally answered.
"Of what Savannah knows.""
Before I could question him further, headlights swept across the windows.
A car door slammed outside.
Then another.
Lucas looked toward the entrance.
His face changed.
"She's here.""
I pulled Grace closer.
"Who?""
He didn't answer.
The front door opened.
Savannah stood in the doorway wearing a cream-colored coat and oversized sunglasses.
Her hair was perfectly styled.
Her lipstick hadn't moved.
She looked at Grace.
Then at me.
And finally at Lucas.
"Well," she said softly.
"I see you've brought the nurse.""
May you like
She removed her sunglasses.
"Now we can discuss what happens to the little girl who doesn't belong to me.""
