Page 118 of Ethan & Grace

Message from Henry to Logan

Ethan

I reached the Asterdam villa in record time. I’d dropped Rose off at Grace’s parents’ place on the way so she could give them more context about the letters. I’d given her a brief summary of what Grace and I had discovered. It still struck me as incredibly naive that I hadn’t thought sooner that Claude might have something to do with Grace’s disappearance, but beating myself up over it wouldn’t help Grace. If I wanted to save her, I would have to act.

Luckily, thanks to James, I knew the security code for the gate at the villa’s driveway. I unlocked it and tore down the gravel drive to the very end. My heart pounded wildly as I leapt out of the car and hurried up the steps to the front door. The villa was dark, but that didn’t stop me from ringing the doorbell like a man possessed. Again and again, I pressed the golden bell until a light came on behind the muslin glass of the front door, and it finally opened.

I found myself staring straight into the sleepy face of Mr. Jensen, the Asterdams’ butler. He blinked at me blearily. “Mr. Darlington, what are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to Mr. Asterdam,” I replied, pushing past him into the foyer without waiting for an invitation.

“Mr. Asterdam is already asleep.”

“Then wake him up!” If I’d known which of the countless doors led to his bedroom, I would have done it myself. I would have shaken him awake so violently he wouldn’t have known which way was up.

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that.”

“I need to speak to him. Right now.”

Mr. Jensen’s smile looked strained now, and there was a glint of annoyance in his eyes. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait until sunrise.”

“No, it can’t! Wake him up!”

“Not necessary with all this noise,” a voice cut in.

I spun around to see Claude at the top of the stairs, tying a dark-red dressing gown at the waist.

A storm of rage and contempt erupted in my chest, emotions I usually reserved for my dad.

I charged up the stairs to Claude. I grabbed the collar of his dressing gown and slammed him against the nearest wall. “Where is she?”

Claude looked frightened. Good. He should be afraid, especially of what would happen to him if I discovered he’d hurt Grace. “What are you talking about?”

“I want to know where Grace is.”

“You mean the woman giving you a good time in my study yesterday?”

I pushed my face close to his. “Yes, Grace! Where is she?”

“How should I know?”

“You kidnapped her,” I snarled, gripping him even tighter. My hands shook. My whole body shook. “Tell me where she is!”

“What the hell are you talking about? Are you high?”

“We know you killed her sister.”

“I’ll call the police,” Mr. Jensen announced behind me.

“Please do. They can arrest this bastard,” I said.

Claude stared at me as if I’d completely lost my mind, but he couldn’t fool me. I knew the truth. The evidence of his crime was on my phone, and I couldn’t wait to share it with the world.

“What’s going on here?”

I glanced up and spotted James in the hallway. I hadn’t wanted him to find out like this. I would have preferred to break it to him gently in a calm moment, but it was too late for that now. “Your dad kidnapped Grace.”

“I did nothing of the kind!” Claude protested, struggling to free himself from my grip, but he was no match for me. “And I certainly haven’t killed anyone. What do you take me for?”