“What happened?”
Rose’s eyes filled.
“Thomas found me.”
The room went still.
“He had me committed.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“He had connections.
Doctors.
Lawyers.
Everyone believed him when he said I was unstable.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Eventually, I became unstable.”
I could barely listen.
“I spent nine years trying to get out.
By then Helen had moved.
Harold refused to tell me where.”
My anger shifted.
“Why?”
Rose looked at Evelyn.
“Because he thought I would lead Thomas to you.”
“Did Thomas know I survived?”
“No.”
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.
