Chapter 8 - A DOOR LEFT OPEN
The paternity results arrived on a Thursday.
Vance read them standing in Nora’s office.
Both children.
His.
He had known.
Still, seeing it confirmed took the strength out of his knees.
Maddie watched him sit.
“Don’t expect that paper to change their schedule.”
“I don’t.”
“They’re still scared of you sometimes.”
“I know.”
June had accepted a picture book from him.
Theo let him build roads with blocks.
Neither wanted him there at bedtime.
He was learning to leave before being asked.
That afternoon, he attended a board meeting.
Eleanor sat at the far end.
Lila wasn’t there.
Her access to company systems had been suspended pending an outside review.
Vance placed the questionable settlement addendum on the table.
“An independent team will examine how personal documents moved through company accounts.”
A director frowned.
“This is a private dispute.”
“It became a company issue when company systems were used.”
Eleanor folded her hands.
“You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“No. I’m establishing what happened.”
Afterward, his new attorney advised him to preserve records and stop direct contact with Arthur.
Then Maddie called.
“Someone came into my apartment.”
Vance was already moving.
“Are you safe?”
“We’re at Elise’s. Nothing obvious was taken.”
“Stay there.”
At the apartment, a police officer stood by the damaged lock.
Maddie’s dresser drawers had been opened.
The children’s birth certificates were missing.
So was her small fireproof document box.
Grant stood beside the kitchen counter.
“The building camera was covered.”
Vance looked at Maddie.
She was furious.
Fear had sharpened into something steadier.
“I kept copies,” she said.
“After your mother’s visit, I kept copies of everything.”
The officer asked where the originals had been stored.
Maddie pointed toward the bedroom.
Vance saw the twins’ beds.
Two tiny pillows.
A night-light shaped like a moon.
Someone had walked through that room.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered without speaking.
A woman’s voice came through.
“You need to stop digging.”
“Who is this?”
“Your children will grow up hearing every ugly thing their mother ever said.”
Vance recognized the voice.
May you like
Not Lila.
His mother’s assistant.
