Chapter 5: What Pearl Had Been Hiding
The gunshot left a ringing silence behind it.
For half a second, nobody moved.
Then Jack pulled me down.
"Get on the floor!""
I dropped beside the table.
Daniel crouched near the doorway.
Pearl stood frozen in the middle of the room.
"Pearl!"" Jack shouted.
She finally moved.
She dove behind the kitchen island just as another shot cracked through the house.
Glass shattered.
Mrs. Ellis screamed.
Jack crawled toward me.
"Are you hurt?""
I shook my head.
"The baby?""
I pressed my hand against my stomach.
A kick.
Strong.
Alive.
"I'm okay.""
Jack kissed my forehead.
"Stay here.""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"I'm not leaving you.""
"You don't understand.""
He reached for my hand.
"I understand enough.""
Daniel motioned toward the back hallway.
"There is another exit.""
Pearl shook her head.
"Not anymore.""
Daniel looked at her.
"What?""
"He's blocked it.""
A man's voice came from upstairs.
"Pearl.""
She closed her eyes.
The voice was calm.
Almost pleasant.
"Come upstairs.""
Jack whispered, "Victor.""
Pearl didn't move.
The man laughed softly.
"You've hidden long enough.""
Jack looked at Daniel.
"How many exits?""
"Two.""
"Can we get her out?""
Daniel glanced at Pearl.
"Not without drawing fire.""
Pearl suddenly stood.
"No.""
Jack grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing?""
"If I stay, he'll keep looking for me.""
"You think I'm letting you walk into a gunman?""
Pearl looked at me.
"He's not here for me.""
Her eyes moved to my stomach.
"He's here for her.""
My blood turned cold.
Jack stepped closer.
"Why?""
Pearl whispered, "Because the trust doesn't transfer until the baby is born.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Pearl...""
I stared at them.
"What trust?""
Neither answered.
I grabbed the edge of the counter and pulled myself upright.
"You've both been lying to me.""
Pearl looked at me.
"Pamela—"
"No.""
My voice shook.
"Every time I think I finally understand, there's another secret.""
Jack came toward me.
"Don't worry about the trust.""
"How can I not?""
"Because you're my wife.""
"And I'm pregnant with your child.""
"Exactly.""
Pearl's voice was quiet.
"That's why Victor needs you alive.""
Everyone stopped.
Jack looked at her.
"Explain.""
Pearl swallowed.
"The trust has one condition.""
"What condition?""
"Pamela's child must survive.""
Jack stared.
"What?""
"Your father was a monster, but he wasn't stupid. He knew Pamela would eventually discover the trust. So he added a clause.""
Daniel nodded.
"If Pamela dies before the child is born, control passes to a designated guardian.""
Jack looked at Pearl.
"Who?""
Pearl whispered, "Me.""
The silence was unbearable.
I stared at her.
"You?""
She nodded.
"Your father named me.""
Jack's face twisted.
"And you chained her to a table?""
"I was trying to keep her alive!""
"You call that keeping her alive?""
Pearl's eyes flashed.
"You weren't here!""
Jack stepped toward her.
"You could have called me.""
"I couldn't.""
"Why?""
"Because Victor was watching.""
Daniel stood.
"He was watching all of us.""
Pearl shook her head.
"No. He was watching Pamela.""
Another sound came from upstairs.
A floorboard creaked.
Jack looked toward the staircase.
"He's coming down.""
Pearl grabbed my arm.
"There's a room behind the pantry.""
Jack immediately pulled me away.
"Don't touch her.""
Pearl ignored him.
"There's a hidden passage.""
Jack looked at Daniel.
"Is that true?""
Daniel nodded.
"I saw it once.""
Pearl rushed into the kitchen.
She opened a cabinet.
Then another.
Nothing.
"Where is it?""
Her hands shook.
"Pearl!""
"I don't remember.""
Daniel pushed past her.
"Move.""
He ran his fingers along the wall.
Then pressed one wooden panel.
It clicked.
A narrow door opened.
Cold air rushed out.
Jack looked at me.
"Go.""
We entered.
The passage was barely wide enough for two people.
Jack went first.
I followed.
Daniel came behind me.
Pearl stayed at the entrance.
I turned.
"Pearl.""
She looked at me.
For the first time, she looked less like the woman who had hurt me and more like someone who had been running for years.
"Come with us.""
She shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Why?""
She smiled sadly.
"Because someone has to make him believe you're still upstairs.""
Jack grabbed my hand.
"Pam, we have to go.""
I turned away.
The passage twisted beneath the house.
We reached a metal door.
Daniel pushed it open.
We emerged into the detached garage.
Jack pulled out his phone.
No signal.
Daniel checked his.
"Nothing.""
Then the garage door began to rise.
We froze.
A black sedan rolled into the driveway.
Victor Hale stepped out.
He wasn't holding a gun.
He didn't need to.
He simply stood there.
Then he looked directly at me.
"Pamela.""
Jack stepped in front of me.
Victor smiled.
"Your husband has made this unnecessarily difficult.""
Jack shouted, "Stay away from my wife.""
Victor laughed.
"You're still calling her that?""
Jack stiffened.
Victor reached into his coat.
Jack grabbed me and moved sideways.
But Victor didn't draw a gun.
He pulled out a small photograph.
He held it up.
It showed a little girl.
Maybe seven years old.
Chestnut hair.
A gap between her front teeth.
Pearl's eyes.
I stared.
Victor spoke softly.
"Do you know who this is?""
Pearl's voice suddenly came from behind us.
"My daughter.""
She stood in the garage doorway.
Her face was wet with tears.
Victor turned.
"Hello, Pearl.""
Pearl stared at him.
"Where is she?""
Victor smiled.
"Closer than you think.""
Pearl stepped forward.
"Is she alive?""
Victor's smile disappeared.
"She has been alive for twenty years.""
I felt Jack's hand tighten around mine.
Victor looked at me.
"And Pamela has met her.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Victor lifted the photograph again.
"You've been calling her Mrs. Ellis.""
My eyes snapped toward the house.
The housekeeper.
Mrs. Ellis.
The woman who had slipped me bread.
The woman who covered her face when Pearl humiliated me.
The woman who had been in this house for years.
Pearl made a broken sound.
"No.""
Victor smiled.
"Ask her.""
I looked toward the doorway.
Mrs. Ellis stood there.
She was crying.
I whispered, "Your name isn't Ellis, is it?""
She shook her head.
Then she looked at Pearl.
May you like
And whispered,
"Mom.""
