Page 112 of The Devil's Torment

“Get back here, pronto. Is anyone else with you?”

“Tobias. Why?”

“Just come home.” I hang up before Xan starts up his infamous rapid-fire questioning. I’m not doing this over the phone.

He instantly calls me back. I ignore it. It takes a while to round up the others, but ninety minutes later, the seven of us gather in the living room Victoria and I share with Xan and Imogen. Luckily for me, Xan and Tobias are the last to arrive, meaning I avoided him battering me with demands for answers.

“What’s this all about?” Xan asks half a second after his arse hits the couch.

“Where’s the key you and Imogen found in the snow globe?”

Xan digs into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys. Sourcing the smallest one, he holds it up. “Here, why?”

“Because I found this on the boat.”

I lean over the side of the couch where I’d put the box. The second he lays eyes on it, his hand shoots out.

“Give it to me.”

I pass it to him. Considering how invested Xan has been in solving this mystery, he should be the one to open the box.

Pushing the key into the lock, he hesitates, then twists it to the right. The lid of the box pops open.

“What’s in there?” Tobias cranes his neck to get a closer look.

Xan reaches inside and pulls out a worn, brown leather journal.

“Looks identical to yours, Xan,” Christian says.

“Yeah.” He frowns, turning it over to look at the back. “It does. But it isn’t one of mine.”

“Open it,” Imogen urges.

All seven of us inch forward in our seats. Xan opens it to the first page. “It’s Mum’s handwriting.” He flicks over another page, scanning the neat script. “She journaled. I never knew that about her.” He seeks out Imogen. “Mum journaled.”

“Perhaps that’s why you love it so much,” she says, resting a hand on his thigh.

“Well, fuck me,” Tobias says, his tone filled with wonder. “I honestly thought you were chasing shadows with that key.”

“Me, too.” Saskia grimaces. “What does it say?”

Xan snaps the book closed. “I don’t think I can read it.”

“Here.” I hold out my hand. “I’ll read it and summarize if that’s easier.” Can’t say I’ll find it any easier to read Mum’s thoughts, but someone’s got to do it. I, for one, am interested in why she went to such lengths to conceal her personal thoughts. By separating the box and the key and hiding them in separate places, she never meant for us to find them, of that much I’m certain.

Relief washes over Xan’s features. “Thanks.”

I read aloud, my siblings, Imogen, and Victoria hanging onto my every word. At first, it’s only Mum summarizing her day, and I start skimming when there doesn’t seem to be anything all that interesting. Until something catches my eye. I flick over the next page, then return to the previous one.

“What is it?” Xan asks when I don’t continue.

“Odd.”

“What’s odd?”

“Listen to this. ‘Today, Charles gave me the worst possible news. George is returning to Oakleigh. I hoped he never would, and I can’t think of a single reason why he’d choose now, after all this time. I’m scared’.” I look up at my siblings. “Why would Mum be scared of Uncle George returning home?”

“Keep going.” Saskia motions with her hand.

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