Chapter 6
I replayed the security footage three times.
Walter entered my office behind Natasha.
Lily followed them.
Then the door closed.
Forty minutes later, Walter emerged carrying a brown envelope.
He tucked it inside his jacket.
Natasha came out smiling.
Lily looked frightened.
I stared at the screen.
My chest felt tight.
I had welcomed Walter into my home.
He called me son.
He shook my hand every Sunday.
He told me he was proud of the business I'd built.
And now I was watching him leave my office with an envelope that might contain confidential documents.
I immediately saved the video.
Then sent a copy to Daniel.
He called minutes later.
"Marcus, where did you find this?"
"Home security."
"Do you have the original recording?"
"Yes."
"Preserve it."
I nodded.
He asked whether Walter had any legitimate reason to access my office.
I shook my head.
"None."
Daniel paused.
"Then we need to investigate his involvement."
The next morning, my accountant reviewed the records again.
He discovered that Heritage Family Services had received payments connected to several of my construction projects.
Some invoices claimed to cover inspection preparation.
Others listed administrative support.
But the services didn't appear to have been performed.
Worse, one payment had been approved using an electronic signature associated with my account.
I stared at the report.
"I never authorized that."
My accountant nodded.
"That's why we're reviewing the access logs."
By afternoon, the logs showed that my account had been accessed from a device I didn't recognize.
The login occurred on a Saturday.
While I was working.
At almost the exact time Walter appeared on the security footage.
I felt sick.
Daniel arranged for an independent forensic review.
He also recommended notifying the appropriate authorities.
I agreed.
I wasn't going to let my daughter's suffering become part of a secret business dispute.
But before we could take the next step, Natasha called.
I stared at her name.
Then answered.
"Marcus."
Her voice was soft.
Almost loving.
For one terrible second, I remembered the woman I thought I'd married.
"Can we talk?"
I took a breath.
"About what?"
"Us."
I looked at the financial records spread across my desk.
"Natasha, I'm working with an attorney."
She sighed.
"Of course you are."
I remained silent.
Then she said, "My parents are devastated."
I felt anger rise.
"Your parents watched Lily eat outside."
"Marcus, please."
"Your father entered my office without permission."
The line went quiet.
For several seconds, I heard nothing.
Then she whispered, "What?"
"I have video."
Her breathing changed.
"Marcus, you don't understand."
"Then explain."
She hesitated.
"It wasn't supposed to happen like this."
My stomach tightened.
"What wasn't?"
She began crying.
Or pretending to.
I couldn't tell anymore.
"My father was trying to help."
"Help with what?"
"Financial problems."
I closed my eyes.
"Whose financial problems?"
She didn't answer.
I waited.
Finally, she whispered, "His."
I stared at the wall.
Walter had retired from a successful insurance business years earlier.
He drove a luxury SUV.
Owned a large house.
Wore expensive watches.
He never mentioned money problems.
"What happened?"
Natasha took a shaky breath.
"He made some bad investments."
I felt sick.
"How much did he lose?"
She hesitated.
"More than he could afford."
"And you used my company to help him?"
"Marcus, please don't say it like that."
I shook my head.
"How should I say it?"
She began crying harder.
"I was going to pay everything back."
I looked at the security footage.
My daughter entering the office.
Walter carrying an envelope.
Forty-seven thousand dollars leaving my business.
"Natasha, did you make Lily help you?"
Silence.
"Answer me."
Her voice hardened.
"She was already there."
I stared at the phone.
"She's ten."
"Stop acting like I forced her to rob a bank!"
My chest tightened.
I took a breath.
"I'm ending this call."
"Marcus, wait."
I paused.
Then she said something that chilled me.
"If you report my father, you'll destroy my family."
I closed my eyes.
She still didn't understand.
Or maybe she understood perfectly.
I spoke quietly.
"You hurt mine."
Then I ended the call.
That evening, I told Renee what Natasha had said.
She listened carefully.
Then asked whether I'd documented everything.
I nodded.
She looked toward Lily's bedroom.
"How is she?"
I sighed.
"She had another nightmare."
Renee's expression softened.
"She needs time."
"I know."
I rubbed my face.
"I should have noticed."
Renee took my hand.
"Marcus, you missed warning signs. You need to own that."
I nodded.
"I do."
"But you can still show Lily that you're listening now."
I looked toward the hallway.
My daughter was asleep with her mother's blue blanket.
I wanted to go back six months.
To the first Friday.
To the first missed dinner.
To the first time Lily looked frightened when I mentioned Natasha.
But I couldn't.
All I could do was act now.
The following morning, a child-protection investigator contacted me.
Her name was Angela Price.
She wanted to speak with Lily in a safe, age-appropriate setting.
I agreed.
Then she told me something unexpected.
Another complaint had been made about Natasha's cleaning business.
My stomach tightened.
"What complaint?"
Angela explained that a former employee had reported concerns about a child being required to work at client properties.
I closed my eyes.
Lily.
Someone else had seen it.
Someone else had noticed.
Then Angela said something that made my blood run cold.
"The employee also claims Natasha instructed her to hide the child's presence whenever inspectors or clients arrived."
I gripped the phone.
May you like
My daughter hadn't simply been made to work.
Someone had known enough to hide what was happening.
