The Skeleton Key

PT.20

Although Emily's mother had forbid her to enter the cellar again, she was still curious about the woman in the wall. So, once she knew Momma and Poppa were busy at work in the bake shop, she quietly snuck down the steps with a pocket full of sweets. Finding the spot with the small opening, she placed the light close. "Hello? Hello, Lady. Are you still in there?"

Kitty heard her calling. Crouching close, "Yes, yes, I'm here. Emily, I'm here."

"I tried. I thought you were the one the men were telling Poppa about? I tried telling Momma but she thinks I'm telling stories again."

Suddenly, "Wait, Emily! What men?"

"Oh, some men came. Two, I think. The man was telling Poppa his friend was missing. He said they were here in town and she just is gone now."

"OH MATT! He was here? I have to find a way to get word to him. Emily, paper. Can you get me paper and pencil? I need to write something."

"Oh, I… I…"

"What? Look you can slide it under the space. I'll write it then you give it to your parents then they'll believe you. Please? Please, Emily?"

"Lady, I can't."

"Why? Why won't you help me?"

"I want to but, Lady, I can't see. I'm blind."

"Oh, Sweetheart. Emily? Emily, where are you?"

"I have to go."

Emily quickly ran up the stairs, not wanting to get caught in the basement.

Later, she heard her parents talking to two women out in the store. She recognized the voices as Ana and Cristina from the shelter. While her parents were talking, she tried to feel around the desk she knew her father sat at in the living room area. Feeling a pencil and tucking it in her pocket, she walked into the store. "Hello, Miss Ana, Miss Cristina."

"Hello, Emily.

Emily leaned on the small bags used for the pastries, knocking them over. "Oh, sorry, Poppa. I'll pick them up." She said. As she did she made sure to hold on to one, quickly leaving them to talk and rushing back down the cellar steps. "Lady? Lady." Slipping the small bag and the pencil under the small crack, having to force the pencil.

Kitty was relieved. She began to right out:

I'm Kitty Russell. I'm trapped in this cellar/basement. Contact Matt Dillon at LaRouge Manor and Constable Morrow. This child, Emily, can lead you to me. Please, I need help.

"Ok, Emily, here. You have to get this to your parents. Please, it's important."

Emily quickly headed up the stairs.

Michael Morrow arrived at the Manor at Benjamin's request. "Ma'am, Mister LaRue. Sorry it took so long. I was held up."

"That's fine. I believe you know what to do with these two?"

"Grandfather?" "Aunt Constance?"

"Never bite the hand that feeds you, my dear."

"Yes, Sir, I do." Looking at Eduard and Patrice. "I'm afraid you two are under arrest. I'll have to ask that you come with me."

"I find this highly ill regular." Eduard said.

"Yes, I suppose you do, Mister LaRue. But all the same, you're under arrest. Let's go. You can contact your lawyer at my office."

With tear filled eyes, "Aunt Constance, I never…"

And you never will again, Child."

Walking the two out of the Manor, Benjamin was holding Constance. "We need to find Kathleen."

"Yes, before it's too late."

Kitty waited and waited, slowly digging at the small opening, making it somewhat bigger, pulling on the boards and finally using her boot to use her heel as leverage to pull on the boards, making the space bigger but still not enough to fit through.

Emily held the note in her pocket. When she got back upstairs, her mother rushed her. "Come on, girl, we need to go. We have an appointment. I'm late." She said, pulling Emily by the arm.

"But, Momma…"

"Not now, Emily."

"But, Momma, I have to give you something. It's from the lady."

"What?"

"The lady, Momma, in the wall."

"Emily, please, I don't want to hear another word about this again."

"Momma, she's real. See?" She said, holding up the note.

But her mother just ignored her.

As they were running errands, Matt was headed to Morrow's office. Emily and her mother saw Matt on the street. Emily remembered Matt from his scent. "Hello. You were in our shop."

Smiling, "Is that so?" Matt said not remembering Emily.

"My poppa's bake shop."

"Oh yeah, that's right."

Emily's mother was busy talking to a friend. "The lady's your friend, right?"

"The lady?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, she's in the wall. Here, she gave me this." Slipping him the piece of paper. Just then, her mother called her.

"Emily, come. We have to go. You must not bother this man. I'm sorry, sir."

"Oh, no bother." As they walked away, Matt was puzzled. What on earth was this child talking about? Then when he opened the piece of paper, it took his breath away. "Ma'am, WAIT!"

TBC