The Housemaid's Secret
by Freida McFadden
Contents
Chapter 71
Overview
In the powerless cabin, Wendy is cornered in the kitchen by someone she believes is Millie holding a knife. Wendy frantically offers money and promises to recant to save her life, but the attacker closes in anyway. A flash of lightning reveals a crucial twist: the knife-wielding woman is not Millie, shifting Wendy’s assumptions about who is hunting her.
Summary
In the pitch-dark cabin kitchen, Wendy gropes for bearings while believing Millie is close behind her. Wendy backs into the stove, forcing herself to stay conscious as panic makes the room spin.
As Wendy’s eyes adjust, Wendy makes out Millie’s silhouette across the room and sees something glint in the woman’s right hand. Wendy realizes it is a knife and assumes it is the same weapon used to kill Russell.
Desperate to survive, Wendy tries to bargain. Wendy offers Millie money and security—tuition, rent, and a bonus—and even promises to tell police she was mistaken about Millie’s involvement.
Millie keeps advancing, unmoved, while Wendy has nowhere left to retreat. When a lightning bolt finally illuminates the kitchen, Wendy gets a clear look at the knife-wielding woman approaching her and realizes with horror that it is not Millie.
Who Appears
- Wendy GarrickTerrified in the dark cabin kitchen; bargains for her life and makes a shocking realization.
- Millie CallowayBelieved by Wendy to be the knife attacker, but is revealed not to be.
- Unknown womanKnife-wielding figure in the kitchen; lightning reveals she is not Millie.
- Russell SimondsRecently killed; Wendy assumes the knife was used on him.