Chapter 5: The Voice They Tried to Silence
“You should have obeyed Santiago.”
Elena stood inside the music-room doorway.
She closed it behind her and turned the lock.
Ruby held up the card.
“You left this for me.”
“I hoped you would understand it.”
“I understand you were waiting.”
Elena took an envelope from her handbag and placed it on the piano.
“There is twenty thousand dollars inside.
Take it and forget Sophia.”
Ruby did not touch it.
“Is that what you offered my mother?”
“Your mother took far less.”
“You called her a thief.”
“She accepted money and disappeared.
What would you call her?”
“A frightened woman protecting her daughter.”
Elena’s eyes narrowed.
“Mara told you something.”
“She told me never to enter this house.”
“Yet here you are.”
“Because she cried whenever Sophia’s name was mentioned.”
Elena pushed the envelope closer.
“Take the money, Ruby.
If you remain, the agency will learn that you concealed your connection to this family.
You will never work in private service again.”
“And if I leave?”
“You keep your career.”
Ruby pulled out her phone.
“Say that again.”
Elena snatched it from her and threw it against the wall.
The screen went black.
“You are not clever enough for this,” Elena said.
The door opened behind her.
Mrs.
Mercer stood there with a small cassette in her hand.
“Neither were you.”
Elena spun around.
“How did you get in?”
“There are two keys.”
Mrs.
Mercer handed the cassette to Ruby.
“I took it from Mr.
Alvarez’s recorder after he fell.
I was afraid, so I hid it.”
“You told me the machine was empty,” Elena said.
“It was after I emptied it.”
Elena lunged.
She tore the cassette from Ruby’s fingers and crushed it beneath her heel.
The plastic cracked across the wooden floor.
Mrs.
Mercer flinched, but Ruby did not move.
Elena looked down at the broken tape.
“Seven years of fear over a worthless piece of plastic.”
“You think that was the only copy?” Ruby asked.
For the first time, Elena’s face changed.
Mrs.
Mercer reached into her pocket.
Elena caught her arm, but the door opened again.
Santiago stood on the other side.
“Take your hand off her.”
Elena released Mrs.
Mercer.
“They broke into this room.”
“And you offered Ruby money.”
“She is trying to extort us.”
Ruby pointed to the envelope.
“Open it.”
Santiago counted the bills without touching them.
“Why would you carry twenty thousand dollars?”
“To protect your family.”
“From a maid?”
“From a liar.”
A cry came from the hallway.
Sophia stood barefoot beside Dr.
Vale.
His hand was clamped around her elbow.
“She left her room,” he said.
“She needs treatment now.”
Sophia twisted free and ran to Ruby.
Her lips trembled as Ruby took both her hands.
“You’re safe,” Ruby said.
“Tell me what you need.”
Sophia looked at Santiago.
Her mouth opened, but no sound came.
Tears ran down her cheeks.
Dr.
Vale lifted his case.
“This proves she is unstable.”
Sophia suddenly forced air through her throat.
“Ruby.”
Everyone went still.
May you like
Sophia gripped Ruby’s hands and spoke again, her voice rough from years of silence.
“Ask Adrian what he gave me.”
