Chapter 2
Lucius’s first night home was spent in his daughter’s bedroom.
Not his own.
Willa refused to let go of his sleeve.
Every time he stood, her eyes opened.
So he sat beside the bed until dawn.
He did not question her.
A pediatric trauma specialist Lucius contacted that night told him not to.
“She has already been surrounded by adults telling her what reality is,” Dr. Caroline Ames said. “Your job tonight is not to investigate. Your job is to become predictable.”
So Lucius gave Willa water.
Found clean pajamas.
Washed mud from her stuffed rabbit himself.
And stayed exactly where he said he would stay.
The investigation began downstairs.
Daniel recovered estate staff schedules from the six days Lucius was missing.
Willa’s nanny, Claire Benson, had not simply left.
Selene fired her thirty-one hours after news of Lucius’s disappearance reached the estate.
Reason given:
Insubordination during family transition.
Lucius stared at the phrase.
“What insubordination?”
Daniel handed him Claire’s written termination notice.
She had objected to Tristan entering Willa’s room without knocking.
She had also refused Selene’s instruction to move Willa into a smaller bedroom near the service staircase.
Lucius looked up.
“They were moving her?”
“Apparently.”
“To where?”
“A guest room on the north side.”
Farther from Lucius’s rooms.
Closer to staff quarters.
He called Claire personally.
She answered on the third ring.
Then immediately started crying.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I should’ve called someone.”
“You tried.”
Silence.
Lucius heard it.
“Claire.”
“Mrs. Barrone took my phone the night they announced you were dead. She said household communications had to go through security.”
Lucius’s jaw tightened.
“What happened to Willa?”
Claire hesitated.
“She kept asking when you were coming back.”
“And?”
“Mr. Hale told her dead people don’t come back.”
Lucius closed his eyes.
Claire continued.
“She cried constantly. Mrs. Barrone said comforting her every time was making it worse.”
“What did that mean?”
“They stopped letting her sleep in your room.”
“That’s normal.”
“At first.”
Another pause.
“Then they started taking things away when she asked for you.”
Lucius felt cold.
“What things?”
“Her television. Desserts. Her toys.”
The rabbit.
He looked toward the cleaned stuffed animal beside Willa’s pillow.
“Why?”
May you like
Claire’s answer became the first clue that the cruelty toward Willa had not been random.
“Mrs. Barrone said Willa had to learn that the old household was finished.”
