The Key of Darkness - Chapter 1

Eve Kane paced the hallway slowly, heels clicking on the parquet floor. Though it didn’t need it she smoothed her skirt again, then touched a nervous hand to the back of her careful chignon. Mrs. Delafield had been dead a week and this was to be Eve’s last day employed by the Delafield estate. She was giving herself a week off, an almost unimaginable luxury. After that she had a job lined up through a temp agency. Boring office work, certainly nothing like being personal assistant to Mrs. Delafield. Eve only had the job for a year and though at Mrs. D’s advanced age her death wasn’t a total shock, Eve still felt herself at loose ends. Mrs. D was a demanding employer, keeping Eve busy seven days a week at all hours of the day and night. But it had frequently been fun work too, and Mrs. D could be every bit as fascinating and charming as she could difficult and irascible.

Eve had to admit she would miss the old woman.

The door to the study opened, various Delafield family members spilling into the hall. Most of them ignored her, a few gave her a kindly nod or smile, but two gave her looks of pure venom. John and Louise Delafield, middle son and daughter-in-law of the late Rebecca Delafield. Eve kept her face impassive, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of any hint they rattled her composure. It took effort, though. A great deal of effort. Her stomach clenched. In her head she began to count in French, an old technique she used to help her focus at times of anxiety. She was going to miss Mrs. Delafield and a lot of things about this job, but if this was the last time she had to look at those two it was a moment worth savoring.

“Miss Kane.” One of the lawyers leaned out the door, gesturing for her to enter.

Eve walked past John and Louise as if they weren’t there, head held high. To her surprise the team of lawyers left the room, the last one closing the door behind him. Arnold Glassman left his seat behind the large antique desk. Tall and fit in his early sixties, he was a senior partner at his firm and Mrs. D’s personal attorney. Eve relaxed in his presence, putting her hands in his when he approached.

“How are you, dear?”

“I miss her already. I keep checking my phone expecting a message and it surprises me every time when there’s not one.”

Arnold led her to the settee and poured them both a cup of tea from the service on a low table. Smiling, he said, “I could have strangled Knox when he taught his grandmother how to use a Blackberry. Of course he thought it highly amusing when she started issuing orders by text message at all hours of the day and night.”

Eve sipped her tea. “She talked about him a great deal but I never met him. I’m surprised he didn’t come home for the funeral.”

A shadow crossed the attorney’s face. “Knox always loved his grandmother but, well.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything.” Mrs. D had been quite willing to complain at length over how poorly John treated his son, her favorite grandchild. The young man had been living in Europe for several years, partly to escape his overbearing parents.

Arnold moved the conversation to the matter at hand. “Rebecca included you in her will, Eve. She bequeathed you a generous sum and one of her pieces of antique jewelry. Since during your employment you were always paid by direct deposit that’s how you’ll receive the funds she left you. It will be in your bank account by the end of business today. And I am to give you this.” He withdrew a small black velvet box from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and held it out for her.

Eve placed her tea cup on the table and took the box. Tears sprang to her eyes when she saw the ring, a milky opal set in a delicate gold filigree. It was a piece she had admired both for its beauty and the story of its acquisition. It was a story Mrs. D loved to tell, equal parts scandalous and delightful, and she’d especially loved how it made Eve blush.

Smiling, she said, “I know exactly what message Mrs. D meant to send with this.” The tips of her ears burned and she hoped she wasn’t blushing. Eve had no intention of wearing the ring, at least not at this moment. Its latent energy reverberated of passion, something Mrs. D always insisted Eve needed more of in her life. She closed the lid, clutching the box tightly in one hand.

Arnold chuckled, clearly not wanting an explanation. “There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“You know she had a safe deposit box where she kept some of the especially rare antiques in her collection.” Eve nodded. That was about all she knew. Mrs. D never divulged what was in that box. “Those items are being donated to a place called The Bradbury Institute. Rebecca’s will states that Knox is to handle the matter but in his absence she wanted you to do it. She was quite adamant that only the two of you be allowed access to this safe deposit box, both in the terms of the will and in person when she was dictating those terms to me.”

Strange. Mrs. D never mentioned anything called The Bradbury Institute. “Tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it.”

“The arrangements are very specific and I’ve got everything ready.” All trace of humor had left his demeanor. She didn’t know what to make of that. “A car and driver will take you to the bank. A bank manager will assist you with the box, though they are not to touch the contents. Mrs. Delafield’s instructions are for you to hand carry the contents to the institute. It’s a two hour drive and there will be no stops along the way, so we’ll get you some dinner before you go.”

“I have to go tonight?”

“She wanted this taken care of as soon as possible. If Knox had been here it might have even happened before the funeral. I’m sorry if you have plans for tonight but I can’t keep hoping he’ll show up.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m happy to go tonight. All I had planned was Chinese food and a good book.”

“You are entirely too young and beautiful for such a boring Friday night.”

Now she did blush. “What would Mrs. Glassman say if she heard you say that?”

“She’s agree with me and then try to set you up with our nephew. Now let’s get you that Chinese food and get you on your way.”

They rose, Arnold escorting her to the door. She paused as he opened it. “What is The Bradbury Institute? Is it some sort of historical society?”

He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Something like that, yes.” He swept an arm out. “Shall we?”

Eve nodded, thinking this might not have been the strangest thing Rebecca Delafield ever asked of her but it was certainly the most mysterious.

Chapter 2 ->