Chapter 3 - June’s Condition
The address led Caleb to a diner forty minutes outside Boston.
June sat in a booth near the back.
Her left wrist was wrapped.
Purple bruising had formed beneath her cheekbone.
Caleb stopped when he saw her.
He had caused some of those injuries.
June noticed where he was looking.
“Sit.”
Caleb obeyed.
“You have every right to hate me.”
“That doesn’t help Elara.”
“Then tell me what’s on the USB.”
June stirred untouched coffee.
“Why did you hire me?”
Caleb frowned.
“Because the agency recommended you.”
“No.”
“You had references.”
“No.”
He leaned forward.
“Then why?”
June reached into her purse.
She placed an old photograph on the table.
A woman stood outside a hospital holding a newborn.
Caleb recognized neither.
“That’s my sister, Lacey.”
June tapped the infant.
“That baby died twelve years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She didn’t die naturally.”
Caleb’s expression changed.
June continued.
“Lacey worked for your family.”
“My family?”
“Your father.”
Caleb’s jaw tightened.
His father, Warren Whitcomb, had died three years earlier.
“What does that have to do with Elara?”
“I didn’t come into your house because I needed a nanny job.”
Caleb stared at her.
“I came because someone connected to your family contacted me.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s impossible.”
“They sent documents. Photos. Old medical records.”
“And you believed them?”
“I believed enough to investigate.”
Caleb leaned back.
“You used my daughter.”
June slammed her uninjured hand against the table.
“I protected your daughter.”
People turned.
She lowered her voice.
“I spent eight months watching Meredith manipulate your house. I watched her change staff schedules. I watched her tell you June said this, June did that, June forgot this. I started recording everything because I knew eventually she would make me disappear.”
Caleb’s stomach tightened.
“What happened yesterday?”
June’s eyes hardened.
“She burned Elara.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No. I expect you to watch it.”
She pulled out the USB.
Caleb reached.
June pulled it back.
“One condition.”
“What?”
“If something happens to me, you don’t bury this to protect the Whitcomb name.”
Caleb stared at her.
“You think I’d protect a name over my daughter?”
“I think rich families convince themselves they’re protecting children when they’re really protecting reputations.”
That landed harder than he expected.
June slid the drive across the table.
“There are eleven files.”
“Eleven?”
“Watch them in order.”
Caleb picked it up.
“What will I see?”
“Enough to stop trusting people.”
His phone rang.
Meredith.
He silenced it.
June watched him carefully.
“Where’s Elara?”
“With my housekeeper.”
“Which one?”
“Mrs. Hale.”
June’s face changed.
“What?”
“Call her.”
Caleb frowned.
“Why?”
“Now.”
He called.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
June stood.
Caleb’s heartbeat accelerated.
Then Meredith called again.
This time he answered.
Her voice was strangely calm.
“Caleb.”
“Where is Elara?”
A pause.
May you like
Then Meredith whispered:
“You really shouldn’t have met June.”
