Chapter 8 - Serena Calls
Victor’s phone rang at 11:47 p.m.
Unknown number.
Naomi told him not to answer.
Victor answered anyway.
“Victor.”
Serena’s voice.
He motioned for everyone to remain silent.
“Where are you?”
Serena laughed softly.
“You sound angry.”
“My son was drugged.”
“I was protecting him.”
“From what?”
“From Lily.”
Victor looked toward Lily.
She stood near the doorway.
Serena continued.
“You really think your precious nanny is innocent?”
Victor said nothing.
“She came into your life three weeks before Claire died.”
Victor’s eyes shifted toward Lily.
Lily froze.
Serena heard his silence.
“That got your attention.”
Victor spoke carefully.
“What are you saying?”
“You never investigated Lily.”
“She was hired through an agency.”
“No.”
Serena laughed.
“She was placed there.”
“By whom?”
“Ask her.”
The call ended.
Victor looked at Lily.
She seemed genuinely frightened.
“Victor, I can explain.”
His voice became guarded.
“Then explain.”
Lily sat down.
“My name is Lily Carter.”
“I know.”
“That part is true.”
She swallowed.
“But I wasn’t randomly assigned to your family.”
Victor waited.
“Claire requested me.”
Victor’s expression changed.
“When?”
“Three weeks before she died.”
“Why?”
Lily looked toward Oliver.
“Because she was afraid.”
Victor sat across from her.
Lily explained that Claire had contacted the nanny agency privately.
She wanted someone with infant-care experience.
But there had been another reason.
Lily’s older sister worked as an investigative accountant.
Claire had met her while researching Mercer’s finances.
“Claire asked whether I could work here and quietly watch Oliver.”
Victor stared at her.
“And you never told me?”
“She made me promise.”
“She died.”
“I know.”
“You still said nothing.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because after she died, I didn’t know who to trust.”
Victor stood.
“You could have trusted me.”
“Could I?”
The question stopped him.
Lily continued.
“You were grieving.”
“Serena was already around.”
“She was helping you.”
“She was watching everything.”
Victor remembered how often Serena visited.
How quickly she knew his schedule.
His staff.
His habits.
Lily lowered her voice.
“Claire told me something else.”
Victor looked at her.
“She said if she died, someone would eventually come for Oliver.”
Victor’s throat tightened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I had no proof.”
“And now?”
Lily looked at the bruises on her arm.
“Now I think Serena knew exactly why Claire hired me.”
Victor felt his anger shift.
Not away from Serena.
Toward himself.
He had been so consumed by grief that he had never asked the right questions.
His phone buzzed.
A text from Serena.
One photograph.
Victor opened it.
The picture showed Serena standing beside an older man.
Richard Vale.
Victor’s uncle.
May you like
Below the photo were five words.
ASK HIM WHO KILLED CLAIRE.
