The Nanny Was Not the Killer

Chapter 3: The Dollhouse Room

Victoria laughed, but the sound broke in the middle.

"That is absurd."

Lily shook her head. "You took it from my dollhouse."

Judge Hart ordered the bailiffs to search Victoria's handbag and coat. They found nothing.

Victoria smiled again.

"See? A child's fantasy."

But Lily spoke calmly.

"Not that dollhouse. The big one."

Everyone in town knew the Whitmore mansion had a custom-built playroom, complete with a full wall-sized dollhouse Andrew had ordered for Lily after her mother died.

Judge Hart called a recess and issued a warrant within the hour.

Police drove to the Whitmore estate with Lily, Emma's attorney, and court officers. Victoria was taken separately under guard.

Lily led them through the mansion without hesitation.

The house felt cold now. Tall windows. White floors. Portraits watching from the walls.

"This way," Lily said.

In the playroom, she walked to the giant dollhouse and opened a tiny painted door on the third floor.

Inside was an empty space.

Lily stared at it.

"It was here."

Victoria, standing near the doorway, finally smiled.

"Children misplace toys."

But Lily did not cry.

She looked at the dollhouse again, then crawled beneath the table where it stood. Her small hand reached under the floor panel and pulled loose a strip of tape.

A hidden compartment opened.

Inside was a second recorder.

Victoria's smile vanished.

The officer played it.

This time, Andrew's voice was stronger.

"Richard, if you are hearing this, then my wife has already tried to silence me."

Another man's voice answered on the tape.

"Andrew, don't involve me."

Emma's attorney froze.

"That is Richard Vale," he said. "The family lawyer."

Andrew continued.

"You forged Lily's guardianship papers. You made Victoria sole trustee if I died. And you helped plant evidence in Emma's room."

Victoria turned toward the lawyer at the back of the police group.

Richard Vale was standing there.

And he was already moving toward the exit.