Chapter 18

Number five Magnolia Gardens was cloaked in silence, the metronomic ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway the only sound. With her heart thudding hard in her chest, Stella quickly stole upstairs, heading across the landing to her mum's bedroom. She hesitated a moment, her hand on the Bakelite handle of the door, guilt squeezing in her stomach. Should she be doing this? No, of course you shouldn't! Your mum would have a fit if she knew! But something stronger urged her forward.

She pressed down on the handle and stepped into the room. It had been years since she'd ventured in here she realised as she cast a cursory glance around the bedroom. It had recently been redecorated with a fashionable colour-scheme and bold, statement wallpaper. Her eyes went to her mum's jewellery box – the one she'd once told Stella had been a gift from someone special but had refused to elaborate on when her daughter had pushed her – relieved to see it was still in its usual place on the dressing table. It was flanked by a photograph of Stella on her graduation day and another in her wig and gown to commemorate the day she was called to the bar. Stella felt a tug in her heart, her guilt increasing at what she was about to do.

Stealing across the room, Stella gently lifted the lid of the jewellery box. With her pulse thrumming in her ears, she took a quick photo with her phone as a reminder of how everything was set out. She knew her mum would be able to spot if anything was even slightly out of place. As she gingerly lifted out the top layer, her eyes alighted on the very thing she'd been looking for. Anxiety swirled in her stomach as she carefully picked up the delicate silver locket. She swallowed the lump of nerves that had taken up residence in her throat. Do you really want to do this? She took a fortifying breath and before she could think any further, pressed the release catch.

Her brow furrowed when nothing happened. She tried once more, but the catch remained reluctant to give. It was hardly surprising, she supposed. It probably hadn't been looked at for years. After a couple more tries, the two halves finally popped apart just as there was a loud hammering on the door.

‘Arghh!' She gasped, panic lurching through her, the necklace slipping out of her fingers.

Pressing her hand to her chest, she turned quickly, knocking over the photograph of her graduation day. ‘Oh no!' She glanced at it quickly before rushing downstairs and flinging the door open to see the delivery man and a large parcel on the doorstep.

With the parcel signed for and safely deposited in the kitchen, Stella hurried back upstairs. She went to pick the locket up from the floor but was horrified to discover she couldn't find it. ‘No! Don't do this to me!' She carefully lifted out the dressing table stool and felt around the carpet, but it revealed nothing.

Pushing her hands into her hair, with panic prickling over her, she swept her gaze over the cream flooring, but nothing leapt out at her. ‘How could this be happening?' Her mother was going to be furious, and Stella couldn't blame her; she'd been snooping and she had no right.

Her stomach was churning violently when something caught the corner of her eye. She glanced down to see the necklace had somehow become snagged on her dress and was hanging there. A tidal wave of relief washed over her. ‘Oh, thank goodness!'

With trembling hands, she unhooked it, relieved to see no damage had been done. Taking a deep breath, she gazed down at the images looking back at her from the locket. Her heart leapt when she spotted the initials JPdeG above a family crest. It was an almost identical image of the one on Pim's arm, only here the "J" and the "P" had switched places. ‘What could this mean?' Stella said, her voice a whisper.

In the other side of the locket was the photograph of a striking young man with blond hair. He looked uncannily familiar, but she couldn't think where from.

Stella's mind was in turmoil as it dawned on her that she'd discovered something significant and she was convinced it had something to do with her father. She set the locket down on the dressing table before taking photographs of each image using her phone. Being careful to return everything to its original position, she closed the jewellery box.

She lifted the photograph she'd knocked over in her haste and went to set it back down when she noticed the back had come loose a little. She couldn't explain what it was that drove her to do what she did next, other than she felt an overriding compulsion. She slid off the back of the frame and set it to one side, before removing the piece of card that was holding the photo in place. It revealed what appeared to be a carefully folded letter. Stella removed the note and set the frame down, instinctively knowing she'd happened upon something of great significance.

With her heart racing she opened the letter out, her eyes running over the words.

The colour drained from her face. ‘Oh my God!' She clapped her hand over her mouth as a mix of emotions bombarded her body. She could scarcely believe what she was reading.