Chapter 4: The Apartment Curtis Never Sold
Officer Miller didn't let us leave the hospital until the medical team finished examining Lily.
By then, it was almost four in the morning.
Lily sat on the edge of the examination bed, wrapped in a warm blanket, while a nurse checked her blood pressure. I sat beside her, holding the brass key inside my closed fist.
Ray had stayed.
He hadn't gone home, hadn't complained, and hadn't once looked at his watch.
Every time someone opened the examination-room door, he glanced up to make sure it wasn't Curtis.
Finally, Officer Miller returned with a woman carrying a leather folder.
"This is Ms. Bennett from child protective services," he explained.
"She's going to help us make sure you and your sister are safe.""
Ms. Bennett pulled a chair closer.
"Hello, Noah. I've heard a little about what happened tonight.""
I looked at her folder.
"Are you taking us away from each other?""
Her expression softened.
"No. My first priority is keeping you together whenever it's safe and possible.""
Lily immediately grabbed my arm.
"We have to stay together.""
Ms. Bennett nodded.
"I understand, sweetheart.""
Then she turned toward me.
"Officer Miller also told me about your aunt in Ohio. We're trying to reach her.""
"Can she come?""
"We're working on that.""
I looked toward Ray.
He gave me a reassuring nod.
For the first time in two years, I felt like somebody was actually trying to help us.
But the relief didn't last.
Officer Miller stepped closer.
"Noah, there's something else about your mother's apartment.""
I sat up.
"What?""
"We contacted the property manager. Your stepfather has been paying the rent through a separate account. The apartment is still furnished.""
"Why?""
"That's what we're trying to find out.""
Ray folded his arms.
"Can we go there?""
Officer Miller shook his head.
"Not without following the proper procedures. We'll arrange an inspection and make sure the property is secured.""
I looked down at the key.
"There's something in there. I know it.""
"How?""
I remembered the photograph.
"The back of Mom's picture said the truth stays upstairs.""
Officer Miller wrote that down.
"Do you remember anything else?""
I shook my head.
Lily suddenly spoke.
"Mommy said there was a lady who would come if we ever needed help.""
Everybody turned toward her.
"What lady?"" I asked.
Lily looked at me.
"The one with the red umbrella.""
My heart skipped.
I remembered a woman visiting Mom in the hospital. She had short brown hair, wore a navy coat, and carried a red umbrella even though it wasn't raining.
I remembered Mom telling me to be polite to her.
But I hadn't seen her since the funeral.
"Do you know her name?"" Officer Miller asked.
Lily shook her head.
"Mommy called her Miss Evelyn.""
Ray exchanged a glance with the officer.
"Could she be a lawyer?""
"I don't know.""
Officer Miller made another note.
A few hours later, we were taken to a temporary family placement while the investigation continued.
Ray gave me his phone number.
"If you need anything, you call.""
I stared at the number he had written on a small piece of paper.
"Why are you helping us?""
He was quiet for a moment.
"Because somebody should have helped you a long time ago.""
I didn't know what to say.
That afternoon, Officer Miller called.
They had entered Mom's old apartment with the property manager.
The furniture was covered in white sheets. Her old books were still on the shelves. A small blue vase sat on the kitchen counter.
But there was no wooden box.
There was, however, an envelope taped beneath the kitchen table.
Inside was a photograph of my mother, Lily, and me.
On the back, in her handwriting, were five words:
Ask Evelyn about the second key.
Officer Miller sent me a photograph of the envelope.
I stared at it until the screen went blurry.
"There's another key," I whispered.
Lily leaned over my shoulder.
"Mommy said two keys.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She nodded.
"She told me there were two. One for you, one for the lady.""
Officer Miller called again.
This time, he sounded different.
"We found a name written inside the envelope.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What name?""
"Evelyn Carter.""
Then he paused.
"There's a telephone number beside it.""
I looked at Ray.
He was standing near the window.
"Call her," he said.
Officer Miller dialed.
The phone rang twice.
Then a woman's voice answered.
"Hello?""
"This is Officer Miller with the county police department. I'm trying to reach Evelyn Carter.""
A long silence followed.
"May I ask why?""
"We're investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman named Margaret Hayes.""
I recognized my mother's name.
The woman stopped breathing for a moment.
Then she asked a question that made Ray straighten.
"Are the children alive?""
Officer Miller looked at me.
"Yes. Both children are safe.""
I heard the woman begin to cry.
"Oh, thank God.""
May you like
Then she said something nobody in that room expected.
"Please don't let Curtis know I've spoken to you. He told me both children were dead.""
