Knotted Legacy

by Brenda Murphy

  She entered and the room fell silent. “Out with it. You are as subtle as a red dress.”

  Elaine held out a pile of clothes. “They found these by the pond.”

  Martha frowned. “And?”

  Myfanwy looked at her. “Footprints, Ma’am.”

  Martha took the pile of clothes from Elaine. The blue shirt Lucia had worn on their last walk was on top of the pile and a pair of trousers she recognized as Lucia’s. No shoes? She wouldn’t have walked out barefoot. Not willingly.

  “We walked by the pond the day before yesterday. It doesn’t mean anything.” Martha refused to let herself think of what else it could mean.

  “We’ve searched everywhere, Ma’am.” Robin’s voice was soft. She looked up and met Martha’s gaze. “Maybe we should call the police.”

  Martha tilted her head at Robin. “Maybe. Thank you all. Return to your work.”

  The others filed out of the room. Myfanwy gave Martha a glance over her shoulder as she left. Martha clutched the clothes to her chest and inhaled. The faint smell of Lucia’s perfume clung to them, and she closed her eyes against the fear welling up inside her.

  Elaine tapped her shoulder. “It doesn’t mean she’s at the bottom of the pond. Check out these clothes.” She turned the edge of the waistband of the pants. A dry cleaning label was pinned inside. “Who wears clothes with the dry cleaning tabs in them? No coat. No shoes. It’s freezing cold outside. Whoever took her wants us to think she’s at the bottom of the pond.”

  “I thought the same about the shoes. But she could have been forced out, and then…” Martha swallowed on a dry throat.

  Elaine fished her phone out of her pocket. She thumbed it on. “Didn’t you let her keep her phone?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t see it in her room, did you?”

  “No. I didn’t.” Excitement built in Martha’s chest.

  “Did you add her to the tracking app?

  “Yes. Just like everyone else.”

  Elaine turned the phone so Martha could see it. A green dot flashed on the screen. “Let’s go.”

  Martha had to stop herself from running down the hall. She dropped the key to the dungeon twice before she got it in the lock.

  Elaine held the phone out in front of her and stared at the screen. “She’s here. Or at least her phone is.” She climbed the dais and sat down.

  “I checked everywhere when I was here.” Martha bustled around the room, moving the furniture and looking for Lucia’s phone.

  “The pit?”

  “I checked the cameras. It was empty.”

  Elaine narrowed her eyes. “Someone is tech savvy enough to film you without you knowing it, and send you untraceable emails, most likely from inside this house. Who says they can’t fuck with the observation cameras?”

  Martha pushed back the rug over the door to the pit. Elaine pressed the button, and the trap slid back. Elaine activated the second button that lit it up, and the ladder emerged from the wall.

  “Lucia!” Martha rushed down the ladder, sliding the last few feet. Lucia lay on her side, her hands and feet bound. Large, noise-canceling headphones covered her ears, a ball gag distended her mouth, and a thick black blindfold covered her eyes. Bile rose in Martha’s throat as she took in the stillness of Lucia’s body. She touched the side of her neck, feeling for a pulse. Lucia thrashed and screamed around the ball gag in her mouth. Relief flooded Martha, and she snatched the headphones off her ears.

  “It’s me. Lucia. You’re safe. It’s me.” Martha tore off the blindfold and helped Lucia sit up. She looked into her eyes. The fear and pain etched on her face made her want to cry. She pulled her handkerchief from her pocket and unfastened the ball gag. She wiped the drool off Lucia’s face.

  Lucia sobbed quietly while Martha tugged at the ropes around her wrists. “I can’t get these untied.” Another sob shook Lucia’s shoulders. Elaine had come down from the dais and looked down at them over the edge of the pit.

  Martha glanced up at her sister. “Find something to cut the ropes.”

  Elaine disappeared from view.

  Lucia’s sobs had slowed. Martha held her and rubbed her shoulders. Elaine’s head appeared at the edge of the pit. “I can’t climb down. I’m going to drop it.”

  Martha sheltered Lucia with her body. Elaine dropped a knife into the pit. It clattered on the stone, landing well away from them. Martha cut through the ropes holding Lucia’s hands and feet.

  Martha checked Lucia’s skin and rubbed her wrists where the ropes had pressed. “Do you think you can climb?”

  Lucia wrapped her arms around Martha, her embrace fierce. “I thought I was going to die. I’d climb a mountain to get out of here.” Martha helped her to her feet and steadied her. “How did you find me?”

  “Your phone. I added you to the surveillance program we use for all the staff phones.”

  Lucia leaned her forehead against Martha’s chin. “We can’t let them know I survived. Can you get me to my room without anyone seeing me?”

  “Are you two moving in down there? I’d tell you to get a room, but you have one.” Elaine’s caustic voice echoed in the pit.

  Martha lifted her face and yelled, “Not helpful,” at Elaine using a singsong voice. She touched Lucia’s shoulder. “Let’s figure out details once we’re out of here. You climb up first, and I’ll climb behind you.”

  Lucia clenched her jaw and clasped the bottom rung of the ladder. She stopped and reached back to cup Martha’s face with one hand. “Don’t let me fall.” Her arms and legs trembled, but she made steady progress. Martha stayed close, her arms framing her as Lucia climbed the rungs, making sure she was safe.

  When she reached the top, Elaine assisted as much as she could with her one good arm. Lucia lay down on the rug next to the pit. She was breathing heavily.

  “Who did this to you?” Elaine’s face was contorted with rage. “I’ll make them wish they’d never existed.”

  Lucia shook her head. “I don’t know. I was in my room. I don’t remember anything after lunch.”

  “Did you take lunch in your room? Who brought it to you?” Elaine narrowed her eyes.

  Lucia shook her head. “I don’t know. There was a knock at the door, and when I opened it, the cart was there with my lunch. I know we’re short-staffed, so I didn’t think anything of it.”

  “If they wanted you dead, why not just poison you?” Martha chewed her lip.

  “Then they would have had a body to get rid of and couldn’t frame you for an accidental death.” Lucia closed her eyes. “I need some water.”

  Martha opened a cabinet behind the dais and took out a bottle of water. She opened it for Lucia and held it out to her. Lucia took a long drink.

  “Go easy or you’ll vomit.” Elaine tugged on Lucia’s sleeve.

  Lucia stopped drinking. “We can’t let them know I’m alive.”

  Martha rubbed her chin. “It will be easy to hide you from Rachel and Millie. Myfanwy and Robin have rooms in the house.”

  “What about your suite?” Lucia tilted her head.

  “Myfanwy would wonder, but I could pass it off as concern for you and the house.”

  Elaine stood up. “I’ll go occupy Myfanwy and Robin. I’ll text you when I get to the kitchen and it’s safe for you to go to your room. I’ll bring up food as soon as I can.”

  “Get my phone back from Myfanwy.”

  Elaine left them. Lucia sat up.

  Martha kneeled next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding fast to what she had almost lost.

  Chapter Fifteen

  THEY WAITED FOR the text from Elaine before they exited the dungeon. Martha locked the door behind her. She kept her arm around Lucia’s waist. She could’ve died. She hugged Lucia closer to her body. I could’ve lost her. A murder arranged to look like a BDSM accident, charges, and the end of Rowan House. When they arrived at her door, she ushered Lucia inside and locked it behind them before she flipped the bar lock, se
curing the room against all entry. Lucia went into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

  Martha waited until she heard the bath running. She opened the door a crack. “May I come in?”

  “Yes.”

  Martha pushed the door open. Lucia was in the bath. Her eyes were closed, her head resting on the edge of the tub.

  “May I help you?”

  “If you’d like.” Lucia’s voice was quiet, and Martha had to strain to hear her.

  Martha picked up a washcloth and soap. She kneeled beside the tub and studied Lucia’s face. She dipped the cloth and soap in the water. Lucia sat up in the tub, her face a mask, devoid of emotion. Martha lathered her hands and began washing Lucia’s back. Lucia flinched when she touched her.

  “I’m sorry. Do you want to do it yourself?”

  Lucia shook her head no. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

  “You are many things right now. Okay is not one of them.” She rubbed Lucia’s back. She set the cloth over the edge of the tub and lathered her hands. She massaged Lucia’s shoulders, working to loosen the tense knots of muscles under her fingers.

  Lucia wet the washcloth and wiped her face with it. “When I woke up in the pit, I was right back where Madame found me. Drugged and forced into a scene. I thought I was going to die. You know what made me the saddest about the whole thing?”

  “No.”

  “That someone was going to use my death to hurt you. And that I wouldn’t get to help Madame with her exit. I promised her. I hate to break a promise.” Lucia cupped the water in her hands and let it dribble out. “Before Madame bought me—and there is no doubt in my mind that is what transpired. The men who held me wouldn’t have released me unless she paid them back for their investment—I thought my life would end that way. With a client who lost control, in a scene gone wrong, or I would be sold for death porno.”

  Martha rubbed the nape of her neck gently. She didn’t speak, waiting for Lucia to go on, knowing she needed to process what had happened to her.

  “I thought I was over it once I was with Madame. I only submitted to her. I went to Japan to study shibari so I could have complete control of a scene. I was Madame’s most in-demand Mistress.” She reached back and clutched Martha’s arm and pressed the side of her face to her forearm. “Right now, I want two things. Food, and you. I want you around me, next to me. I want to feel safe.”

  Martha pressed a kiss to the top of Lucia’s head. “Let’s get you out of the bath. I’m sure Elaine will be here soon with the food. She’ll prepare it and bring it herself.”

  Lucia raised her chin. “I want to burn those clothes.”

  “I’ll do it myself.” Martha rinsed her hands in the water.

  “We need to keep them until after this is over.” Lucia stood up, the water rolling off her body, and stepped from the tub. The faraway look in her eye had been replaced by storms of anger. “When we catch the person or persons who did this to me, I will not be merciful.”

  Martha draped her in a towel and wrapped her arms around her. “I think you’ll have to get in line for vengeance. Whoever is doing these things has threatened my livelihood, my family, and—” She looked into Lucia’s eyes. “—and my love.”

  Martha gave Lucia a pair of her pajamas and her dressing gown. She turned the gas fire on, and Lucia sat in front of it to dry her hair.

  A sharp rap at the door made them both startle. Lucia got up and went into the bathroom and closed the door.

  Martha opened the door a crack with the bar lock in place. Elaine was there with a serving cart. Martha closed the door and opened it for her. As soon as she could, she closed the door and flipped the bar lock back in place.

  “Why the bar lock?” Elaine rolled the cart to the center of the room,

  “It occurred to me whoever did this has a set of keys. They had to unlock Lucia’s door after they drugged her. They had to unlock the dungeon and have enough time to alter the surveillance camera feed.”

  Elaine pressed her lips in a thin line and handed Martha back her phone. “So it had to be someone who has had access to our keys.” She pulled her key-ring from her pocket. “I don’t let this out of my sight.”

  Martha retrieved her own key fob. “Even Millie doesn’t have a key to the dungeon, and she has most of the other keys.”

  Lucia came out from the bathroom. She picked up a glass and poured herself some water before she lifted the lid from the covered dish and inhaled. “So someone would have needed time to take your keys and make copies of all of them?”

  “No, only my passkey.”

  “And the dungeon key. The lock was keyed after the others.” Elaine sat down.

  Martha chewed her lips. “But when? And how? It’s not as if we live close to any hardware stores, or key-cutting shops.”

  Lucia tilted her head to the side. “When Elaine was in the hospital in Portree, who was in charge of her keys?”

  “I don’t know. They were in the pocket of my chef jacket.” She glanced at her arm. “I don’t remember what happened after they pulled it off me outside.”

  Martha frowned. “Myfanwy and I pulled your coat off. Rachel brought cool water to pour on your arm while we waited for the ambulance. I don’t know what happened to the jacket. I assumed Myfanwy took care of it.”

  Lucia picked up an apple and took a bite. She chewed slowly, and when she finished, she met Martha’s gaze. “So the only people who would have had access to Martha’s keys were Myfanwy and Rachel.”

  “And Robin. She was here alone with Rachel. Elaine and I rode in the ambulance. Millie followed in the car with Myfanwy.”

  “No one would have had time, means, or access to have keys made.” Elaine drummed her fingers on the table.

  “Maybe they’re able to pick locks.” Lucia took another bite of her apple.

  “Don’t you need special tools?” Martha sat down next to Lucia.

  “Which you can acquire on the internet for cheap.” Elaine passed a plate piled high with bread to Lucia who took a slice and bit into it while she put two more slices on her plate. “We installed the hotel bar locks because the locks are so easy to open. They’re decorative rather than functional and don’t offer much in the way of security.”

  “We’ve never worried about it because we screen our guests and our workers thoroughly.” Martha paced the room. “Not thoroughly enough this time.”

  Lucia sat back in her seat. She looked at the food in front of her and to Elaine. “You were the only one who prepared this?”

  Elaine met Lucia’s gaze. “Yes. Except for the bread. Myfanwy made it this morning.”

  Lucia blew out a breath. “I’m freaking out. I can’t remember what I ordered. It was most likely something they added to my food or wine when they delivered it.” She moved a slice of cheese to her plate and took another apple.

  Martha touched her hand. “I know I’ve asked you before, but do you remember anything?”

  “Nothing coherent. I have disjointed visions. Nothing clear. No faces. I don’t even know if it was more than one person.” She folded her hands in her lap.

  “It would take a very strong person to carry you down the ladder to the pit. Or you were so compromised you went willingly.”

  Elaine frowned. “The only people physically strong enough to go down the ladder with her over their shoulder would be Millie or Rachel. Robin is too slight, and Myfanwy’s back would not allow her to lift Lucia.”

  Martha sat down at the table. “Millie was out most of the day yesterday running errands, and Myfanwy was in the kitchen in the morning.” She took a sip of water. “And with me in the afternoon. Which leaves us Rachel and Robin unaccounted for.”

  “I don’t know how long I was in the pit. I could have been left in my room until night. If I went willingly, you would have heard me as I passed by your room.” Lucia pushed her plate away. “I was so hungry, and now I don’t feel like eating.”

  Martha frowned. “Myfanwy and I were in my office after lunch.�
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  Elaine sat up. “It has to be Rachel or Robin—or both of them.” She pulled Martha’s phone from her pocket and pushed it toward her. “How do we catch them?”

  Lucia leaned closer to the table. “We keep it a secret I’m alive. We wait. My guess is they want us to call the police. They want to involve the authorities so the place will be shut down. They want to ruin Rowan House and the two of you. They will wait, figuring without food and water it will take me a few days to expire. They might even want to check to make sure before they call the police. When they were sure I was dead, they would call the police.”

  Martha steeple her fingers. “What do we do when the police arrive and want to search the house?”

  Lucia raised her eyebrow. “I appear. And we wait for the person who reported it to freak out. Meanwhile, we are going to set up a camera in the dungeon and wait for them to check and make sure I’m dead. Since otherwise it could be explained as private play between consenting adults.”

  Elaine drummed her fingers on the table. “I hate waiting.”

  “Me too. But I think the plan is workable. As long as we keep Lucia out of sight.” Martha picked up a slice of bread and buttered it.

  “This has to only be between the three of us.” Lucia pressed her lips in a thin line. “Not even Myfanwy or Millie can know. I know you both believe them above suspicion, but I don’t trust anyone but you two.”

  Elaine snorted. “Well, at least you don’t think I did it.”

  Lucia arched an eyebrow. “I’m certain if you wanted to get rid of me, you would have chosen a more direct method.”

  Martha looked at the fine lines at the corner of Lucia’s eyes and the worn expression on her face. “No one will know but us. Elaine will prepare and bring us all our meals. We will keep up our usual routine.”

  Elaine tilted her head. “What if we act like we are trying to cover it up? What if we tell everyone we found her, but she is ill, and she will need to rest in her room for a few days?”

  Lucia frowned. “You think they would be worried I might remember something. And we knew who was behind it.”