Then why keep it secret after he died?”
Rose’s expression changed.
“Thomas Vale didn’t die.”
A chill ran through me.
“What do you mean?”
“He changed his name.”
I stared.
“To what?”
Rose’s lips trembled.
“I never knew.”
Then she looked toward the doorway behind me.
And everything in her face changed.
Terror.
I turned.
Margaret stood there.
She had arrived without telling us.
Rose’s voice became a whisper.
“You.”
Margaret stopped.
“Rose.”
“You lied to me.”
Margaret went pale.
“I protected her.”
“No,” Rose said.
“You protected Harold.”
I looked between them.
“What is she talking about?”
Margaret said nothing.
Rose suddenly laughed.
A terrible, broken sound.
“You still haven’t told her.”
“Rose.”
“You still haven’t told her who Thomas Vale became.”
Margaret gripped the back of a chair.
My heart pounded.
“Who?”
Rose pointed at Margaret.
“Ask her husband.”
I froze.
“Harold?”
Rose’s eyes burned.
“Thomas Vale was
