Val followed Mrs. Morgan again. They stopped in front of a closed door. Mrs. Morgan turned the handle and the two women went inside. There was a king-size bed and matching dressers. Everything was gray or white and very modern in design. It had such a sleek elegance, reminding Val of Bethany’s décor in the condo. This room was lacking one effect that Bethany managed to achieve. Power. “This definitely is not the décor of a teenage girl.”

“We had it redecorated to Gabrielle’s liking when she moved back with us after Max, her first husband, died. Gabrielle took all of her belongings when she moved out so other than the furniture there’s nothing in here.”

“Where did Adam stay?”

“The room next door. You’re welcome to look in there too, but that’s pretty much empty also, except for furniture.”

Val saw no need to see the room. With no personal belongings, there really wasn’t much to investigate. Gabrielle’s room did, however, have something Val wanted to see. There was a single door to her right and two sets of double doors to her left. Val took a stab at the single door and pointed. Is that a closet?” Val hoped it wasn’t.

“It’s the staircase that goes to the nanny’s—well Claudia’s—old room.”

Bingo! This is where Melinda and Bethany say they all hid fifteen years ago. “Is it all right if I go up there?”

Mrs. Morgan shrugged. “If you really want to. I hope you won’t mind if I stay down here though. That particular staircase is awfully narrow and my ankle is not one hundred percent yet.”

“Understood.” Val opened the door and took a look up, wondering how much of a problem her own leg would have climbing these stairs. “Where else do these go?”

“They open directly into Claudia’s old room but from that you can exit to the entire floor. And then to the attic floor from there. As I said earlier, it’s not in use much. Claudia is our only live-in help. We do maintain the upper floors, but honestly have no use for them.” Mrs. Morgan laughed. “If this house wasn’t built by James’ great grandfather and hadn’t been in his family for so long. I would have moved out of here years ago. He won’t give it up.”

“You don’t love a grand house like this?” Val questioned.

Mrs. Morgan laughed. “No. A penthouse in Manhattan is more to my liking. Not a 130-year-old mansion. It’s beautiful but full of quirks.”

“Some would call that old-world charm.”