THE BOYS RAN AFTER THE WOMAN HE THREW OUT

Detective Ortiz told Richard to stay where he was. Her team traced the message while Priya checked the image for clues.

The envelope rested on a dark wooden table. Behind it stood a brass lamp with a chipped green shade.

“I’ve seen that lamp,” Richard said.

Priya had too. Victoria kept it in the private office of the charitable foundation she ran downtown.

Ortiz sent officers to the building. Richard went with her, though he remained outside while they approached Victoria’s office.

Victoria opened the door herself.

She wore a gray suit and carried a cup of coffee. When she saw the officers, she lifted her chin.

“Is this really necessary?”

Ortiz showed her the photo. “We’d like to talk about the letter.”

Victoria looked at Richard. “You came.”

“Where is it?”

“In my desk.”

“Why did you take it?”

“Because I wanted you to read it before you married me.”

“Then why send me a threat?”

Her eyes flickered toward Ortiz. “I was angry. You’ve decided I’m some kind of monster because three frightened children told a story.”

Ortiz requested the envelope. Victoria handed it over, still sealed. Richard recognized Grace’s careful handwriting across the front.

RICHARD. WHEN YOU’RE READY.

For a moment, the office fell silent.

Ortiz asked Victoria to accompany them to the station to answer questions about the forged travel documents and the recordings. Victoria asked for her lawyer and went with them.

In the car, Richard held the envelope in both hands. He did not open it until he returned to the hotel, where Elaine and Emily were waiting.

Grace’s letter was three pages long.

She wrote about the boys they were expecting, about the life she hoped they would have, and about Richard’s habit of trying to solve every problem alone.

“If I’m gone,” one paragraph read, “please let people love them. A full house means nothing if our boys feel lonely inside it.”

Richard stopped reading. Emily looked away to give him a moment.

The final page held a surprise. Grace had written that she was worried about a man who had approached her about buying her shares before the triplets were born. He had offered money, then threatened to make her regret refusing.

Grace had given his name to Elaine.

Richard turned to her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did. You told me to handle it.”

“Who was he?”