“Who else knew about the laundry room?”

“The nanny.”

“Teresa?”

Rachel nodded.

“Why would she?”

“I fired her.”

“Why?”

“Because she knew too much.”

Daniel felt a chill.

“What did she know?”

Rachel looked frightened.

“She saw someone else in the house.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

Daniel stepped closer.

“You said you didn’t know.”

“I didn’t.”

Rachel reached into her purse.

She pulled out a photograph.

It showed a man standing in the driveway.

Daniel recognized him.

Victor Hale.

The contractor who handled Mercer Ridge’s home renovations.

“What was he doing here?”

Rachel shook her head.

“He came three times.”

“Why?”

“He said he was checking security.”

“Did you let him inside?”

“No.”

Daniel took the photograph.

“When was this?”

“Two months ago.”

That was before Daniel had noticed anything wrong.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I thought he was working for you.”

Daniel frowned.

“I didn’t send him.”

Silence.

Rachel looked at him.

“Then who did?”

Daniel didn’t answer.

He called his security director.

“Has Victor Hale had access to my house?”

The director checked.

“No.”

“Any access requests?”

“One.”

“When?”

“Six weeks ago.”

“Who authorized it?”

The director paused.

“Your office.”

Daniel’s stomach dropped.

“My office?”

“Yes.”

“Under whose name?”

“Your executive assistant.”

Daniel knew immediately.

His assistant, Mark.

A man who had worked for him for eleven years.

A man he trusted.

“Did Mark request access?”

“Yes.”

“To the house?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

“Delivery.”

Daniel looked at Rachel.

She was pale.

Then his phone buzzed.

An email from his assistant.

Subject: URGENT — BOARD MEETING.

Daniel opened it.

The board was requesting an emergency meeting.

There had been unexplained financial transfers from one of Mercer Ridge’s subsidiaries.

Millions.

Daniel read the message twice.

The company wasn’t in immediate danger.

But someone had moved money without his authorization.

And the access request to his house had been made by the same executive assistant.

Suddenly the family mystery had a second layer.

Someone outside the marriage had been moving around Daniel’s home.

Someone who knew his schedule.

Someone who knew the children.

Someone who had access to corporate systems.

Rachel looked at him.

“What is it?”

“Someone may have been using my office to access the house.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Daniel picked up the photograph.

Victor Hale.

Mark.

The photographs of Lily.

The forged documents.

The financial transfers.

The pieces didn’t fit yet.

But they belonged to the same puzzle.

Then Lily appeared at the top of the stairs.

“Daddy?”

Daniel looked up.

She was holding a small red coat.

Claire’s old coat.

“I found this in the closet.”

Daniel walked toward her.

“What about it?”

She opened the pocket.

Inside was a folded piece of paper.

“I think it’s Mommy’s.”

Daniel took it.

The paper was old.

A handwritten note.

Claire’s handwriting.

Three words.

ASK MARK ABOUT VICTOR.

Daniel stared at the note.

Rachel whispered, “Who is Victor?”

Daniel looked at her.

“I think we’re about to find out.”