“How did you know she was Bianca London?”
My heart was pounding as I gazed at the two men. The tension in the air was electric. I was scared that Jakob was going to hit the old man, but I too was curious. How did he know my name?
“She looks like her mother, sir,” he whispered. “As soon as I saw her, I recognized her.”
“You knew my mother?” I gasped as I stepped forward.
“No.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know her. Not well. She only came twice.”
“She came here twice?” I looked up at the expensive building in front of me. Why would my mother come here?
“What did she come for, George?” Jakob’s voice was soft this time, though no less threatening.
“She came to visit your mother, Jakob.” George’s voice was low.
“They were friends?” I asked, surprised, and looked at Jakob, but he looked as shocked as I felt.
“No.” George shook his head sharply. “Those two women were not friends.”
“Oh.” I wrapped my arms around my body, my heart sinking.
“Why did she visit my mother, George?” Jakob’s voice was slow and deliberate. “What did she want?”
“I don’t know exactly.” George looked nervous. “I don’t like to pry. I don’t want to be in anyone’s business. It’s the only way you can be in a job like this for as long as I have been.”
“You didn’t hear anything?” I leaned forward, my face cold. “Nothing at all?”
“Well, the first time she came, I remember them screaming and shouting right in front of the building.” He looked nervous. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help but hear them. And then she came back a second time. I remember it clear as day because I was so shocked when she came back. I didn’t understand why she would return after the first time was so bad.”
“What were they screaming?” I asked gently.
“All I remember hearing was ‘He’s mine.’?” George stared at both of us.
“And what else?” Jakob said softly.
“I heard someone say, ‘I’ll kill you.’?”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “Who said that?”
“I don’t know.” George looked apologetic. “I’m sorry. I don’t know who said what.” He gazed into my eyes. “I saw your face and it was like seeing into the past. You look just like her. So sweet, so innocent.” He bowed his head. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you, miss.”
“No, it’s fine.” I looked at Jakob. His eyes were somber. I felt ashamed of myself. Maybe he’d been right all along. Maybe my mother had been having an affair with Jeremiah Bradley. Maybe my mother had ruined his mother’s life after all. What did I really know about her? About anything? My heart dropped as I realized that maybe I wasn’t representing the side of good after all.
“Welcome home. Well, to my apartment.” Jakob opened his arms wide as we walked out of the private elevator and into his penthouse apartment.
“It’s big.” I laughed at my completely obvious comment. I stared around at the floor-to-ceiling windows and gazed out at the city lights. “What a view.”
“What a view indeed.” He turned to me. “Gorgeous.”
“I’m talking about outside the window.”
“I’m talking about you.” He stepped toward me.
“So you were right,” I said, unable to keep the sadness out of my voice. “My mom slept with your dad.”
“We don’t know what happened.” He shook his head.
“I’m pretty sure we do.”
“I don’t blame you. My dad was a pig. He was obviously sleeping with a lot of women.”
“Including my mom.” I sighed. “I wonder if my dad knew.”
“That would have been devastating for him.” Jakob took my hand and pulled me to the couch with him. “Are you okay?”
“Not really.” I closed my eyes. “The sky is closing in on me and I don’t even know which side is up anymore.”
“You’re okay, Chicken Little.” He rubbed my knee.
“How can you be so calm?” I glanced at him. “We basically just got confirmation that there was something going on with my mom and your dad.”
“We confirmed nothing.” He shook his head and paused. “Look at me, Bianca. All we’ve confirmed is that this whole thing is a lot more complicated than we both originally thought.”
“What are we going to do?” I suddenly felt really glad to be with Jakob.
Then I heard the beep beep of my phone receiving a text. “I have a message.” I pulled my phone out and frowned at the screen. “Actually, it’s a voice mail.” I frowned. “My phone didn’t even ring, though.”
“Listen to it.” He nodded at the phone.
“Okay.” I listened to the message and frowned. “Listen.”
I put the phone on speaker and pressed REPEAT. “Bianca, it’s Larry. I’m so sorry for everything. So, so sorry. Listen to me carefully. Look at the letters and the clues. The clues have the answers. Death wasn’t the end, but the beginning.” Then, after a scuffling noise, the message went dead.