“The trail threw up an interesting past.”
I say nothing, peering at him through the amber hue of the glass.
“Her history takes her back to Canton House. She was Serenity Woods there and subsequently married a man who owns property in Zurich. She has three children.”
“Canton House. The boarding school where the three sisters were sent before their father died.”
“Yes. It also happens to be the same school where Sister Agatha, Serenity Woods and–” he pauses and I fill in the gaps.
“And my mother.”
He nods, leaning forward with an enigmatic expression.
“Their time was spent together. They shared a room, the three of them, and I understand your mother kept close ties with Sister Agatha. I’m not sure the same can be said for Serenity.”
Again, I say nothing and he leans back, a thoughtful gleam in his eye.
“Why would Sister Agatha trust Serena Francis with the keys? What is her connection to the girls?”
“My mother, perhaps?”
“Do you believe your mother has the keys, Joseph?”
“You’re the man with the answers, Spencer.”
I remind him of his skill, and he nods.
“There is no known communication between the women, and I have studied your mother’s phone records. I have also studied Serena’s and Sister Agatha’s, leading me to surmise that any conversation regarding the keys either happened in person or at the convent when Serena visited.”
“Have you searched her homes?”
“Of course. They are currently out of town, so it was easy to arrange. Their neighbors have nothing but good things to say about the family, and there is no scandal attached to their names. Richard Francis is clean too; no hint of debt or problems he requires helping with.”
“You think she has the keys, though.”
“I suspect she took the keys that day, but if she still has them, I would be astonished.”
“Anything else?”
I’m confident he will discover their whereabouts, and he nods. “Priscilla Van Der Hudson is currently seeking treatment in the Priory for alcohol addiction. Her husband, Riordan, is carrying on with his business as normal.”
I say nothing because that isn’t shocking. It’s normality in my world because business always comes first.
“Perhaps now is the perfect time to arrange for Tiffany to visit her mother.”
Spencer nods and as he stands, he confirms. “I’ll arrange it. The guards are positioned on the route when you are ready.”
He references our evening ahead. Malik Karim lives three doors away, and it’s a very short walk to his impressive townhouse. As always, that would be the perfect opportunity for my enemies to strike, so the guards secure the area, enabling me to pretend I’m normal and walk like everyone else.
He leaves and is quickly replaced by a vision.
I stare in shock as my wife to be enters the room, shimmering in a red floor-length gown, the folds of the fabric wrapped around her body, exposing patches of skin but preserving her modesty at the same time.
A beautiful diamond necklace glistens at her throat and her hair has been swept on top of her head, secured by diamond pins.
I always considered her beautiful, even in the nun’s habit devoid of make-up, but it’s as if she has been transformed by the angels.
“Joseph.”
