Hughes flinched at Ridley's suddenly harsh voice.
He pulled back, neck recoiling, and when he looked up, Ridley's face was twisted with fury—the same savage expression Morris had worn earlier at Ana's studio.
Shaking, Hughes repeated his earlier words to Ridley.
Ridley's world crumbled; his heart plummeted.
He stared at Hughes, voice grave. "Are you and Aileen keeping other secrets from me?"
Hughes's mind went blank under Ridley's intensity. "No, Dad. Aileen and I only worked together that one time."
Ridley's memory flashed to Morris rescuing Ana from the basement—and the wasps that had mysteriously appeared in the villa.
He questioned Hughes. "Who brought those wasps into the house before?"
Hughes considered this. "I think Aileen did."
Something clicked, and he nodded with certainty. "Aileen said she wanted fresh honey for me, so she bought bees and brought them home. You had locked Mommy in the basement then. She wanted to give Mommy fresh honey too."
