Page 26 of The Missing Sister

‘Probably not, although I reckon Georg knows far more than he’ll ever say.’

‘I agree, but I guess he’s bound by whatever a lawyer’s oath is not to reveal his clients’ secrets.’

‘Well, Pa certainly seems to have had a lot of those,’ said Ally. ‘Like, did you know there’s a lift in this house?’

‘What?’ Maia gasped. ‘Where?’

‘There’s a panel that hides it off the corridor from the kitchen,’ said Ally, lowering her voice. ‘Tiggy found out about it when she was staying here after being so ill in the spring. Apparently, Ma said that Pa had it installed not long before he died – he’d been struggling with the stairs, but kept it a secret because he didn’t want any of us to worry.’

‘I see,’ said Maia slowly. ‘That doesn’t seem too suspicious, though, Ally.’

‘No, but whatissuspicious is that the lift goes down to a hidden wine cellar that no one has ever told us about!’ said Ally.

‘I’m sure there’s an explanation for it—’

‘When Electra was here a few months ago, Ma took both of us down there. And Electra confirmed what Tiggy found when she sneaked down into the cellar when Ma and Claudia were asleep – there’s a door hidden behind one of the wine racks.’

‘So what’s behind it?’

‘I don’t know,’ Ally sighed. ‘I sneaked down there myself one night when I was up with Bear – the key to the lift is in the key box in the kitchen. I saw the door, but couldn’t budge the wine rack in front of it.’

‘Well, when we’re all here together we’ll go and take a look. Maybe Georg knows where and what it leads to. Anyway, getting back to the missing sister, now that we know where Mary-Kate’s mum is staying in Toronto, let’s call Electra again,’ said Maia, looking at her watch. ‘It’s about six a.m. in New York – that might be too early.’

This time, Electra didn’t answer her mobile, so Maia left a message for her to get back to them urgently. Ma arrived in from the garden with Bear, and Ally fed him as she sat in the kitchen waiting for Electra’s call.

‘You can go out or upstairs if you wish,’ Ma commented as Claudia began preparing lunch. ‘I won’t leave the phone unattended.’

‘If Electra doesn’t call back soon, I might,’ said Ally, as Maia excused herself to go to the bathroom. ‘Can I leave Bear here with you? I thought I might take the Laser out on the lake after lunch.’

‘Of course. You know it is my pleasure to look after him, Ally, and I’m sure an hour or two of sailing would do you the world of good. Maybe Maia could come with you,’ said Ma, watching the kitchen door for Maia’s return. ‘Between you and me, she does not look well. Maybe some fresh air would do her good.’

‘Maybe,’ agreed Ally. ‘I said she should go to the doctor if she doesn’t improve over the next couple of days.’

‘I hope she is better for when your sisters start to arrive. I want it to be a wonderful celebration.’

Ally caught the glimpse of anticipation in Ma’s eyes.

‘I hope so too, Ma. It must be very exciting for you, having all your girls back together again.’

‘Oh, it is, but with all their families coming too, I must work out how to accommodate them. Do you think the couples will mind sharing the smaller beds you have in the rooms on the attic floor, or should I put them on your father’s floor in the double rooms?’

Ally and Ma were discussing this when Maia walked back into the kitchen. ‘Any news?’ she asked.

‘Not yet, but I’m sure Electra will contact us as soon as she gets the message. Ma was wondering whether you wanted to come out and take a spin round the lake on the Laser with me?’

‘Not today, thank you. I’m not sure my stomach is quite settled enough yet,’ Maia sighed.

‘I have soup,’ said Claudia from her station at the range. ‘Will you eat inside or out?’

‘Outside, I think, don’t you, Maia?’ said Ally.

‘Err... I had a late breakfast so I’m not hungry. In fact, I think I’ll go upstairs for a lie-down while you eat. I’ll see you later.’

As Maia left the room, Ally and Ma shared a glance.

Having put Bear back in his pram, tucked into a shady spot under the big oak tree where Ma had always stationed the babies for a nap, Ally was just sitting down to drink her soup when the telephone rang. She dashed inside to pick it up, but Claudia had reached it first.

‘Is it Electra?’