A Vicious Cycle

by Eliza Brookes

  “Don’t be ungrateful,” James said snottily, “they took you in and treated you like a son.”

  “Sarah gave me a bill on my eighteenth birthday. She charged me for everything she ever paid for when I was a child. I worked for twenty years to pay that thing off. By the time I was finished, I had no other skills and no other company wanted to hire me.”

  James went pale and took a step back. Henry gave him a small smile, letting him know that he didn’t hold the butler’s words against him.

  “Penny came to me that day and told me what she had found. Ruby was sent away for a year and everyone said that she went away to Switzerland. She didn’t. Ruby was sent away to a maternity home.”

  “What’s a maternity home?” James asked cluelessly when Allegra put her head in her hands.

  “It’s a place where they sent unmarried pregnant mothers in those times,” Henry explained, tears brimming in his eyes.

  “That doesn’t sound so bad,” James commented innocently.

  “They didn’t always choose to go there,” Allegra said heavily. “they were basically slaves and had to work until the day they gave birth. Afterwards, the babies were given up for adoption. The mothers couldn’t fight it.”

  “They were called refuges,” Henry spat, “the women were told that they were horrible people and were treated like dirt. They never saw their babies again.”

  “Most times they wouldn’t receive much help during the birth. They had little help and most of them went through the experience alone and without loved ones.”

  “Okay,” James said, looking a little sick, “I understand.”

  “She and Mark had a baby,” Henry continued, “the year before she disappeared. Then she was gone, and Lillian missed her so much that she decided to find her grandson. They never told Mark where she went, and they let him believe that she decided to leave him.”

  “Is that what you told Penny?” Allegra asked him gently.

  “No,” Henry leaned forward, “I had no idea. I gave up when I came back from England. Penny came to me and told me what she had found. She didn’t have much proof, it was mostly guesswork and a few records that she found at a library in the town where the maternity home was.”

  “That’s why she disappeared,” Allegra guessed.

  “Yes,” Henry nodded, “she came to ask me if Margaret was my grandmother. I just confirmed her suspicions when I told her that Margaret wasn’t my grandmother. She wasn’t happy. And that’s the last time I ever saw her. I swear, I didn’t hurt her. I was too shocked by what she told me. You have to understand what this news did to me.”

  “I can only imagine,” Allegra said kindly.

  “This can’t be right,” James said, looking a little green around his face.

  “Please don’t be sick in my office,” Henry pleaded with him.

  “I’m fine,” James said, but he ducked out of the office quickly.

  “Thank you for your help,” Allegra said absently as she tried to focus on her next move.

  “Allegra,” Henry piped up as she was about to walk out. “Penny was the bravest person I knew. She wouldn’t have been very careful with this information.” Allegra nodded in understanding and walked out of the office, her head spinning. She smiled gratefully when she remembered that she hadn’t taken Greta up on her hundred-dollar bet.

  The house was quiet around her as she walked through the dark halls, using her hands to guide her through the unfamiliar territory. She had no idea where she was going or what she would do. After a while, she got tired of wandering and used her flashlight to get her bearings. What she found was that she was only a few doors away from Ruby’s old door. Without thinking too much about it, she let herself in.

  The room was still musty and abandoned. No one had bothered to go in despite the news that she had been buried on the estate for sixty years. Allegra shook her head sadly and walked over to the window, pulling the curtains open with a flourish. A faint light from the stars and the outside lights flooded in, illuminating the forgotten room. From her position, Allegra saw that Ruby’s room looked out onto the estate and she could see Ruby’s tree from where she was standing.

  Penny had said that Ruby wouldn’t have run away because it was a cowardly thing to do. On the night she disappeared, her room was set on fire and it spread to other rooms of the house. That meant that it would’ve been a while before anyone noticed that she was missing. A blaze that big would’ve commanded attention and provided a decent distraction. But if Ruby hadn’t set the fire, then who did? And why? Setting a fire was an angry act. Whoever had done it must have been seething.

  Allegra shivered when she thought about what kind of person would set fire to someone’s room. Didn’t they care that there were other people in the house? She walked out of the room, feeling more confused than ever. As she walked back to her room, she paused outside of Sarah’s door. It suddenly occurred to her what could make Sarah tell the truth for once.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Allegra stepped out of her room feeling hollow inside. By the time she had finished the diary in its entirety, it was dawn. She didn’t stop there though. Once she was finished, she read through it again marking the passages that were more important than the rest. By the time she had gone through it for the fourth time, the rest of the house was starting to wake up. She could hear people bustling as they got ready for the day.

  She walked down the hall as if her feet were weighted. She couldn’t remember what sleep felt like, but her mind was more alive than it had been in months. Her body buzzed with a dull energy that sparked her movements. Sometime during the night, somewhere between the lies and the truth, Allegra felt herself retreat into auto-pilot as she drew the right conclusions. In one hand she held the now slightly battered diary, while in the other she carried her phone. The screen was already on and her call log showed that she had made several phone calls that morning.

  She bumped into Tyler outside of her room. He looked up in surprise, his hair was still slightly ruffled, and his shirt was only done up half way. He smiled when he saw her and put out his hand to steady her and keep her from falling. She looked up at him with dull eyes and took a step back, holding up a hand to prevent him from touching her.

  “Allegra?” he asked in surprise, looking down at her hand as if she had just slapped him, “What’s going on?”

  The gesture was small but effective. She took a step back and regarded him with her emotionless gaze, causing him to stumble back too. Allegra shook her head at him and stepped past his frozen form. Without looking back, she continued on. No matter what happened, or who she met on the way, she only had one destination.

  Tyler didn’t catch the hint and turned to follow her, a determined look on his face. He wasn’t the type of person to let things go. When he wanted to know something, he went for it. The next person they ran into was Christopher. He took a step out of his room and jumped back when Allegra walked past. He looked at her then Tyler in surprise and opened his mouth to say something but closed it when he saw their expressions. Violet was the next person to step out after Christopher.

  “What are you doing?” she asked in surprise when she bumped into his frozen form.

  “Something’s wrong,” he said quietly, looking at Allegra’s determination. Violet let out a frustrated noise and stepped out from behind him, but she stopped when she saw what he was looking at. She started fidgeting with the ends of her hair when she saw where they were heading. This would be a showdown for the ages.

  James walked up the last step just as Allegra walked past the staircase. He took one look at all their expressions before starting after Allegra. After Henry’s revelations the previous night, he didn’t sleep well. It showed in his disheveled appearance and his troubled expression. It was a time for decisions, and he made his when he followed after Allegra.

  The last person and possibly the most important was already outside his room when the three walked up to him. He noted the varying expressi
ons on their faces before settling back on Allegra. He bowed his head as she walked past him without acknowledging him. It had only been a matter of time since Penny had come home.

  The Kinsleighs had been on borrowed time ever since. Their entire dynamic had been built on lies and hypocrisy, and in one day it would all come crashing down. For those who cared, there was no going back. From that day on, nothing would be the same and the consequences for the offending parties would be severe. For those who were tired and had been waiting for a way out, it was their day.

  Allegra stopped outside Sarah’s door and took a deep breath. It had been a few days since she first showed up to find a missing girl. In the meantime, she had been exposed to decades of family history. She knew this family better than they did and they were about to find out just how much. She opened the door and stepped in, closing it firmly behind her before Tyler or James could follow her. It wouldn’t last long, they were both chomping at the bit and wanted to know what was going on. She would have to make the most of her time now.

  “What are you doing?” Sarah demanded.

  “It’s time for my progress report,” Allegra said tonelessly, holding up the key to the entire investigation. Sarah looked at the diary as if were Ruby’s ghost. Her face drained of color and her mouth hung open. For the first time since she met the woman she had nothing to say. It was an empowering sensation and it brought a humorless smile to her face. Everything that happened from here on out was long overdue.

  “Where did you get that?” Sarah asked. To say that she looked horrified was an understatement. Allegra was vaguely concerned that the old woman was going to have a heart attack.

  “I found it on my first day here,” Allegra admitted. “I didn’t think it was all that important until last night. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? Is that why you hired me?”

  “Yes,” Sarah said bluntly. “I gave you a week, I thought it would be impossible.”

  “You overestimate your own intelligence,” Allegra told her. Sarah looked as though she swallowed a lemon. To her surprise, Allegra didn’t feel triumphant. She felt sad. This investigation was different from all those that she had done before. Great-aunt Dot’s investigation had been fueled by grief. The playboy on the boat had been fueled by familial guilt, and the businessman had been out of duty. This investigation had challenged her and introduced her to two beautiful people who made more of an impact on her life than she would’ve thought possible.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sarah said calmly, folding her hands on her lap.

  The old woman was still in bed. She wore a frilly night cap and lacy nightgown. Her pose was almost regal, and she mustered the haughtiest expression in her arsenal. Sarah wasn’t going to make this easy for anyone.

  “Are you going to confess, or should I show you what I found.”

  “You’re going to have to show me what you’re talking about,” Sarah said, trying to look calmly amused. She leaned back into her pillows, her covers were almost undisturbed. Allegra wondered if she had gotten up to put everything in place before James came in with the breakfast tray.

  “You hated her,” Allegra said, ignoring her bait.

  “Be more specific, dear. I’ve hated a lot of women in my time. It’s hard not to. Most of them are vapid, insecure creatures. You’re familiar with those terms, aren’t you?”

  “Ruby,” Allegra said sadly. “Here, you said, ‘That vile cow came home today. Everyone made a fuss as usual. It’s almost as if she wasn’t in a refuge with all the other sluts. I wonder what Daddy will say when I tell him she brought a miniskirt in her luggage.’ Those aren’t the words of a loving sister, Sarah. Although, you should know that. You wrote them.”

  Sarah remained stubbornly silent. She stared at Allegra from her spot on the bed with hate-filled eyes. Her calm façade wasn’t going to stay intact for much longer. It wouldn’t be long before she exploded. Her seething rage could be felt in the air around her.

  “You can’t prove I wrote that,” Sarah said eventually. Allegra knew that she was winning when Sarah was the first to speak. Allegra didn’t say anything, but she walked over to Sarah and showed her what was written on the book’s inner cover. A much younger Sarah had doodled her name on every inch of the page. Sarah flinched backwards but didn’t say anything.

  “You were jealous of her,” Allegra said sadly. “She was your sister, and all you could see was a rival. It’s not just because of her looks, but it started that way. You told me that your mother was always comparing the two of you, it must’ve hurt more than you let on. Eventually, you became jealous of everything that had to do with her. You were jealous when your parents spoke about her or spent time with her. And then, you found a new reason to be jealous. Or is that where it started? With Mark?”

  “He was nothing,” Sarah spat, but she didn’t put much spirit into it. Her eyes darted around frantically, and she clenched her hands into fists. Her secret shame had been discovered.

  “You loved him,” Allegra said firmly. “Should I prove it to you? Here, about a month later. ‘I saw him today. He was working in his father’s shop. How can one man be so glorious? Mark has my heart. He has it now and he always will. We spoke for a little while, but it was ruined when she came after me. She yelled at me for walking away from her, and it was as if he couldn’t look anywhere else. I hate her. If she had just stayed away he would’ve forgotten about her.’ Mark Smith, the man you tried to frame for Ruby’s disappearance, was innocent. You told me that he was obsessed with your sister, but you lied. You were the one who was obsessed.”

  “I was not…” Sarah yelled, but she took a deep breath halfway through before continuing. “I wasn’t obsessed with him. It was a girl’s crush. He was always around. He was a very handsome man, I was a teenager. Of course, I had a crush on him. Everyone did.”

  “I agree,” Allegra told her levelly, “it was just a girl’s crush. But it seems that your taste was based on whoever loved your sister. Case in point, Lawrence Kinsleigh. The handsome businessman from England who came all the way over the sea because he heard about the fabled beauty of Ruby Allerton. ‘I always thought Lawrence was smart, but how could a smart man love Ruby? I will never understand men. They flock to her, but they can’t see past her made-up face. I swear, if she puts on any more make-up, she’ll look like a clown.’ Tell me, did she know you wanted to marry him?”

  “Too much make-up has never been attractive,” Sarah shrugged, but she wouldn’t look up at Allegra anymore. Her eyes were focused on her hands as she picked at her cuticles.

  “Forget it all,” Allegra said, shaking her head in bewilderment. “Forget how you insulted her and slandered her. I’ll even forget your questionable relationship with the Gazette’s editor. I can say that, Sarah, because you’ve already confessed. It all starts one day before you murdered Ruby. ‘I caught Ruby sneaking out to meet him. She hasn’t learnt her lesson. It won’t be long before she gets pregnant. Again. The stupid girl is going to marry him. I heard her say she’s going to tell Daddy today.’ You still cared about Mark, even though you doodled Lawrence’s name on the previous page.”

  “Mark was enough for a passing fling. He’d never provide any serious stability.”

  “You don’t know that. He didn’t want you. He wanted your sister.”

  “What do you want from me?” Sarah snapped.

  “Do you want me to read what you did? Or are you going to stop playing games.”

  “Fine!” Sarah yelled. “I killed her! I killed Ruby! You already had my confession. Why did you come here?”

  “I want to hear what you did to Penny,” Allegra snarled, taking a step back. Sarah shrank back in shock and shook her head. “Tell me how you killed your granddaughter too.”

  “I didn’t,” Sarah said in a weak voice.

  “Oh, come on,” Allegra scoffed, “your confession is here: ‘I did it because she was going to ruin our family. I did it for us.’ All you care about is reputati
on and what other people think. You can’t stand to think that people know you’re not perfect.”

  “I didn’t,” Sarah echoed, tears falling down her cheek.

  “You found out about her affair,” Allegra said angrily, taking a step forward, “and it was Ruby all over again. Penny never listened to you, she always fought you, and then she did something like that. There’s no way you were going to let her do that to the family. So, you did what you had to do. You took care of it the way you took care of Ruby.”

  “Affair?” Sarah gasped, her hands were shaking in her lap.

  “With the professor,” Allegra said slowly, suddenly realizing that she could’ve been wrong on one front.

  Sarah started to say something, but she froze and looked over Allegra’s shoulder in horror. Allegra turned around in time to be smacked to one side by Tyler’s blow. She crashed to the floor, her head spinning. Tyler didn’t say anything as he got down on one knee and put his arms around her neck. Allegra’s phone and the diary went flying as she clawed at his forearms.

  His hands were bruising her neck as they cut off her air supply. Allegra felt a panic she had only experienced twice before creeping up her throat and she tried to cry for help, but no sound came out of her mouth. As she fought him, his sleeves were pushed up, revealing the wounds Penny had made when she fought him.

  “Tyler!” Sarah screamed, “Tyler, no!”

  Allegra’s vision was starting to fill up with black dots and she felt her lips go numb. After a second, she realized that her entire body was starting to seize with pins and needles. She fought as hard as she could, but the lack of oxygen was starting to affect her limbs. Her movements were clumsy and unfocused. As she stared up at his eyes, she was chilled to find that there was no remorse there.

  In the background, she could hear a faint pounding. A renewed surge of energy swept through her and she kicked as hard as she could. Tyler shifted slightly just as Christopher, Henry and James kicked the door down. The three men rushed forward to pull him off her. Allegra breathed in desperately, her throat felt as though it was broken, and she twisted to her side as she clutched her throat and gasped for air with horrible croaking sounds. She could feel tears pouring down her cheeks and her hands were shaking. James ran over and pulled her close to him, rocking her back and forth as he held her up.