Chapter 1 - THE THING INSIDE THE BAG
No one moved.
The fire snapped behind its iron screen, throwing amber light across
Serena Cross’s emerald gown. Her diamond earrings glittered as she
stared at the vacuum-sealed bag in Alina’s hands.
Tristan Crowne stood between them.
“Explain,” he said.
Serena gave a short laugh. “There is nothing to explain. The maid was
supposed to dispose of an old urn. She made a scene.”
“An urn isn’t rubbish,” Alina replied.
Her voice was barely audible, but Mabel heard it. The little girl
tightened both arms around her crocheted rabbit.
“Grandma said her things must stay together,” she whispered.
Tristan crouched beside his daughter. “What did you see, sweetheart?”
Mabel pointed at Serena. “She took Grandma’s white cup. She tipped it.
Then she made the loud machine eat the gray dust.”
A murmur swept through the guests.
Serena’s face flushed. “She’s three. She doesn’t understand what she
saw.”
“Then you won’t mind explaining it,” Tristan said.
He turned to Alina. “Was the urn full?”
Alina nodded. “It was sealed when I brought it downstairs. I was asked
to polish the console before the reception. When I returned, the lid was
off. The ashes were in this bag.”
“Who asked you to bring it here?”
“Miss Cross.”
Serena lifted her chin. “I asked her to clear an old household item.
That’s all.”
Tristan looked at the vacuum bag. “Why seal it?”
“I didn’t,” Alina said. “I found it like this.”
He glanced at the empty porcelain urn. A hairline crack ran along its
base. Something metallic glinted inside the broken edge.
“Daniel,” Tristan called.
His security chief appeared at his shoulder. “Boss.”
“Close the doors. Nobody leaves until we know what happened.”
Serena’s smile disappeared. “You cannot be serious. This is a Christmas
reception.”
“Then consider it a Christmas mystery.”
Daniel signaled two guards. They moved toward the ballroom exits.
Alina held the bag carefully, afraid the ash might shift. Her mother,
Rosa, had spent thirty-one years in the Crowne household. She had cared
for Tristan when he was a boy, then helped raise Mabel after her mother
died. Mabel had called her Grandma long before she understood they
weren’t related by blood.
Rosa had died eighteen days earlier.
Now Serena had treated her remains like dirt.
Tristan noticed the tears gathering in Alina’s eyes.
“Did your mother leave instructions?”
Alina hesitated. “She told me not to let anyone open the urn.”
Serena scoffed. “Convenient.”
“She said there was something inside that belonged to you,” Alina
continued.
The room seemed to contract.
Tristan looked at the broken base again. “Something belonging to me?”
Alina nodded. “She said you would understand when you saw it.”
Serena stepped forward. “She’s lying. Rosa was confused near the end.”
“My mother was clear until her last day,” Alina said.
Mabel tugged at Tristan’s trouser leg.
“Papa? Grandma told me if the blue bird disappeared, I should tell you.”
Serena went completely still.
Tristan saw it.
“What blue bird?” he asked.
“The bird on Grandma’s necklace,” Mabel whispered.
Alina’s breath caught. Her mother had worn a tiny blue enamel bird on a
silver chain for as long as she could remember.
Tristan rose slowly.
“Daniel, bring the urn to the study. Carefully. And find out who entered
this room before dinner.”
Serena reached for his arm. “Darling, don’t let a servant turn this into
a scandal.”
He looked at her hand until she withdrew it.
“You’re right about one thing, Serena. This is a family matter.”
His eyes hardened.
May you like
“And you’re about to explain why you touched my daughter’s grandmother’s
ashes.”
