Chapter 529 - 125 Music Box Secret

Chapter 529: Chapter 125 Music Box Secret

Daniel’s POV

The penthouse was empty when we returned from the private medical facility, save for a note from Sybilla mentioning they’d be back late. After a long shower, my little one demonstrated quite thoroughly that she was the only woman I should ever turn to in times of crisis. Not that I harbored any doubts, but watching her take control and dominate me like that was something I’d never tire of, especially after the tension of recent family operations.

"What’s with the satisfied grin, big guy?" Lila emerged from our walk-in closet, catching me sitting in the bedroom armchair with what must have been a ridiculously smitten expression.

"Can’t help it. This smile is permanently etched on my face thanks to you." I pulled her onto my lap and captured her lips with mine, tasting the sweetness that had become my addiction.

"Stop that, we have company now." She laughed against my mouth, though her body pressed closer.

"Didn’t seem to bother you earlier tonight." My hand found its way to her breast, causing her to shiver involuntarily. "Sure you want to leave this room? I could make some calls, clear the apartment."

"Yes, it’s getting late." She quickly jumped off my lap, straightening her silk robe. "Besides, your family connections mean we can’t just ignore everyone."

When we reached the dining area, distinctly grumpy faces greeted us, with Beckett looking particularly murderous in that Sullivan family way.

"What’s wrong with everyone?" Lila asked, perplexed by the hostile silence. "Bad evening?"

"Bad doesn’t begin to cover it, Lila," Beckett replied with the stern authority of someone who’d inherited control of a major criminal enterprise at a young age. "I nearly kicked down your bedroom door tonight thinking this boyfriend of yours was torturing you for information."

"Well, he was, honey," Katarina interjected with a sly smile that would have made her modeling career proud. "Just not in the way you’re thinking, but in the way I demonstrated earlier. And don’t be ungrateful your evening wasn’t terrible at all."

"For Christ’s sake, Katarina!" Beckett glared at his wife with the intensity he usually reserved for rival family negotiations. "She’s my baby sister, and this Martinez bastard is corrupting her."

"In my defense," I laughed, enjoying how easily I could rile up the Sullivan heir, "she’s definitely the deviant in this relationship."

Lila’s head dropped in embarrassment. "Daniel!" she scolded, mortified by my candor in front of her brother.

"Tiny one, there’s no point playing innocent. You’re delightfully wicked and I adore that about you." I pulled her close, marking my territory. "And Beckett, drop the protective act. Your sister isn’t a child anymore, and she chose to be with a Martinez."

"What hypocrites!" Sybilla burst out laughing from her position at the counter. "You get all protective when I mention dating anyone from the other families. And you, Beckett, complaining about these two when your wife was equally vocal tonight. I should have invited Jude to stay then we’d have had multiple bedrooms of screaming"

"SYBILLA!" I cut her off, shocked by her boldness. "What exactly is happening between you and Jude?" I demanded, causing everyone to burst into laughter at my sudden shift to overprotective mode.

"See?" Sybilla pointed at me triumphantly. "Complete hypocrite!"

We were still enjoying our coffee and discussing family business when the security system announced visitors. I went to answer it, and Zoe strode in like the dangerous socialite she was.

"I have arrived, detective! Where’s my Tiny Cipher?"

Behind Zoe’s theatrical entrance, Finn merely shrugged apologetically, used to her dramatics.

"Come in, Finn," I welcomed him with the handshake reserved for trusted family associates. "And you, crazy girl, no embrace? You disappear for weeks on that European assignment and don’t miss your friends?"

"Oh detective, you know I always miss my friends." Zoe laughed, embracing me with the familiarity of someone who’d helped me through multiple family crises. "Here, brought you something from Milan." She handed me a gift bag. "Now where’s Tiny Cipher?"

"We’re having coffee, this way." I guided them with my arm around Zoe’s shoulders. When she spotted everyone at the table, her expression transformed completely.

"Oh. My. God!" Zoe started bouncing like an excited child despite her sophisticated exterior. "Is that I can’t believe it! Katarina Barrett! I’m literally your biggest fan! I once flew all the way to Milan just to see you walk the runway! I’m so emotional right now!" Everyone broke into laughter as Katarina stood to embrace the starstruck Zoe. "Guys, what an amazing surprise! How did you know about my obsession with her work?"

"Zoe Miller fangirling? Never thought I’d live to see the day!" I couldn’t stop laughing at her uncharacteristic loss of composure.

"Not just anyone, detective. It’s HER." Zoe emphasized dramatically. "This woman isn’t just in the fashion world she IS the fashion world!"

"So I’ve lost my friend to my brother’s wife?" Lila teased, leaving Zoe completely stunned.

"Wait say that again. Your what?" Zoe looked genuinely shocked. Few things genuinely rattled Zoe, but this clearly did. Lila repeated that Katarina was her brother’s wife, causing Zoe to blink rapidly in disbelief. "It never once occurred to you to mention that your Katarina was THE Katarina Barrett?"

"Honestly? No, Zoe," Lila replied nonchalantly, making Zoe gasp dramatically.

"I don’t know if you deserve your present anymore," Zoe declared with theatrical indignation.

After proper introductions and Zoe sharing highlights from her European intelligence gathering, Katarina seized the opportunity to implement their plan.

"Zoe, I’m desperate for a proper spa treatment. There’s nowhere decent in our territory, and Lila mentioned you know an exceptional private establishment." Katarina delivered her line perfectly, sending Zoe into another round of excitement, exactly as I’d predicted. She resembled a child discovering treasure pure, unbridled joy.

"I’m taking Katarina Barrett to my spa!" Zoe beamed with the satisfaction of someone about to show off exclusive connections. "You’ll love it there, Katarina. I can make reservations for all of us right now." She immediately grabbed her phone to arrange everything through her network.

Within moments, the women were heading out for their beauty day, leaving us to handle family business.

As soon as they left, I called Gideon and confirmed we were ready. He was bringing boxes of belongings from the Sullivan family’s deceased housekeeper, items that might contain clues about the family’s buried secrets. We’d already briefed Finn on our investigation, which had visibly excited him. Gideon and Jude arrived simultaneously, and we went downstairs to help with the containers.

"These boxes are massive, Gideon," I commented, surveying the enormous containers now dominating my living room.

"They are," Gideon agreed grimly. "Good thing you called reinforcements. Each of us can tackle one box and make this go faster. The housekeeper’s sister said this was everything she kept, and anything useless can be discarded."

"Any luck with that list of contacts?" I asked, hoping to locate the housekeeper’s confidante.

"Unfortunately not," Gideon sighed. "But she remembered her friend’s nickname ’Beardie.’ Apparently her sister found it hilarious because the friend despised it. Got stuck with it after losing significant weight during a family crisis."

"Well, let’s start searching," I instructed. "Everyone take a box, set aside anything potentially relevant. If you’re unsure, separate it for group analysis." With that, our investigation began.

Time passed as we sifted through endless papers, notes, bills, trinkets, planners a lifetime of carefully preserved secrets. After gathering what each of us deemed significant, we reconvened at the table.

We methodically analyzed each item, discarding the irrelevant ones. Eventually, we were left with notes mentioning "Beardie," some photographs, and the housekeeper’s diary with its final pages torn out pages that, based on the dates, coincided with Beckett’s mother’s suspicious death. Yet nothing concrete revealed Beardie’s identity or any information about what really happened to Beckett’s mother.

I noticed Finn intensely examining a simple wooden music box. It appeared ordinary but had peculiar overlapping circular carvings on its exterior that could be rotated.

"Fan of music boxes, Finn?" Jude inquired curiously.

"Despise them, actually. My mother collects them and forces everyone to help clean them worst punishment imaginable," Finn replied absently, still focused on the object. "I’m almost certain she has one identical to this."

Finn stared at the box with unusual concentration, rotating the circles almost compulsively. He closed it, opened it, turned it various ways, then wound it up to play music. This cycle repeated endlessly.

I was about to ask him to stop with the irritating repetition when he wound it once more, rotated the circles in a specific pattern, and smiled triumphantly.

"I knew it. My mother’s box had the same secret mechanism," Finn spoke as if we’d been following his thought process. The box made an audible click as he lifted a hidden panel in the lid, revealing a secret compartment containing a small key and a receipt with an address.

"If this isn’t significant, nothing here is," Finn declared confidently.

We exchanged shocked glances. That key undoubtedly guarded something important we just needed to discover what family secret it would unlock.