Chapter 1 - The Man at the Door
“Kevin?”
Daniel Cross’s voice rose from the foyer below.
Jordan’s scream tore through the hallway.
Justin woke in Annie’s arms and began kicking desperately.
“No!”
The boy buried his face against Annie’s neck.
“Don’t let the car man take us!”
Kevin looked from his terrified sons to the silver cuff link lying on the carpet.
It carried the Morrison Dynamics emblem on one side.
On the other was a tiny engraved letter.
D.
Daniel Cross had worn the same custom cuff links for nearly a decade.
He was Kevin’s closest business partner.
He had been best man at Kevin and Lauren’s wedding.
He had stood beside Kevin’s family during the funeral.
Kevin picked up the cuff link before Daniel could reach the second floor.
“Take the boys back into the bedroom,” Kevin said.
Annie did not move.
“They are afraid of him.”
“I can see that.”
“Then don’t make them hide while you pretend you can’t.”
Her words struck harder than Kevin expected.
Footsteps sounded on the staircase.
Daniel appeared at the top wearing a navy suit and carrying a bottle of whiskey.
He smiled until he saw Annie holding Justin.
“What is going on?”
Jordan pressed himself against Annie’s skirt.
Daniel’s gaze shifted toward Lauren’s open bedroom.
His smile disappeared.
“Why is that room unlocked?”
Kevin closed his hand around the cuff link.
“That is what I was about to ask you.”
Daniel gave a short laugh.
“Me?”
Justin lifted his head.
His pale face tightened with terror.
“You yelled at Mommy.”
Daniel stared at him.
The hallway became silent.
Kevin stepped between Daniel and the children.
“What did he just say?”
Daniel’s expression softened into practiced concern.
“He is confused.”
Jordan began shaking.
“You told Mommy she would lose us.”
Daniel’s eyes flashed toward Annie.
“What have you been saying to these children?”
Annie’s voice remained steady.
“I listened.”
“You are a maid.”
“And they are children.”
Daniel took one step toward her.
Kevin blocked him.
“Stay where you are.”
Daniel stopped.
For the first time in fourteen years, something cold passed between the two men.
Daniel slowly lowered the bottle of whiskey.
“You called me twenty minutes ago.”
Kevin frowned.
“I did not call you.”
Daniel pulled out his phone.
A missed call from Kevin’s private number appeared on the screen.
The call had lasted three seconds.
Kevin checked his own phone.
There was no outgoing call.
Annie glanced toward the bedroom.
“Someone wanted him to come here.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“This woman should be fired tonight.”
Jordan suddenly pointed toward Daniel’s jacket.
“You had the other one.”
Everyone looked at him.
“The other what?” Kevin asked.
Jordan’s finger remained fixed on Daniel’s chest.
“The shiny button.”
Daniel glanced down.
One cuff link was missing from his right sleeve.
Kevin opened his hand.
The matching silver piece caught the hallway light.
Daniel’s face lost all color.
“That is not possible.”
Kevin stared at his oldest friend.
“It was inside Lauren’s bedroom.”
May you like
Daniel took a slow step backward.
Then the lights throughout the mansion went out.
