Chapter 1 - The Man in the Hallway
Nobody moved.
Carter replayed the recording.
The man appeared again.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Wearing an expensive gray coat.
He stood close to Chloe as though he belonged in the house.
Carter didn't recognize him.
But the way Chloe looked at the screen told him she did.
“Who is he?”
“I don't know.”
Carter laughed once.
It wasn't amusement.
“You just spent eight months telling me how lonely you were.”
“I was lonely.”
“Then who is he?”
Chloe looked toward Eleanor.
Then toward Maya.
Then back at Carter.
“He was a consultant.”
“For what?”
“The house.”
“My house doesn't need a consultant.”
Chloe swallowed.
“You weren't here.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Carter walked toward the staircase.
Chloe grabbed his arm.
“Don't go upstairs.”
Carter looked down at her hand.
She immediately released him.
“Why?”
“Because your mother needs rest.”
“My mother needs answers.”
Eleanor suddenly whispered, “Carter.”
He turned.
Her expression had changed.
She was staring toward the staircase.
“He was here yesterday.”
Carter's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“The man.”
Chloe quickly interrupted.
“She is confused.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“He came into my room.”
Carter went still.
“What did he want?”
Eleanor's voice trembled.
“He asked me where your father kept the old documents.”
Carter's face hardened.
“My father?”
Chloe stepped backward.
Carter noticed.
“What documents?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
“I don't.”
Maya suddenly spoke.
“There was a safe.”
Carter turned toward her.
“What safe?”
Maya hesitated.
“In the library.”
Chloe snapped, “Maya.”
Carter raised a hand.
“Let her speak.”
Maya looked terrified.
“Mrs. Hayes told me never to go near the library after midnight.”
Carter looked at Chloe.
“Why?”
“I wanted privacy.”
“You put a lock on it.”
“It contains personal things.”
“What personal things?”
Chloe didn't answer.
Carter walked toward the library.
Chloe followed.
“Carter, please.”
He opened the door.
The room looked untouched.
Books.
Paintings.
A large desk.
A fireplace.
Everything appeared normal.
Then Carter noticed something.
One section of the wooden wall was slightly darker than the rest.
He pressed it.
Nothing.
Maya entered behind him.
“There.”
She pointed toward the floor.
A thin line ran beneath the carpet.
Carter pulled the carpet back.
A concealed metal panel appeared.
He stared at it.
“Where's the key?”
Chloe said nothing.
Carter turned.
“Where is it?”
Chloe's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't have it.”
Eleanor's voice came from the hallway.
“Yes, you do.”
Everyone turned.
The old woman slowly pushed herself upright with Maya's help.
“You wore it around your neck.”
Chloe touched her throat instinctively.
A tiny gold chain disappeared beneath her dress.
Carter saw it.
He stepped forward.
Chloe stepped backward.
And for the first time since he had returned, Carter realized something far worse than an affair might have been happening inside his home.
May you like
Someone had been searching for something his father had hidden.
And Chloe knew exactly what it was.
