Chapter 4 - The Open Office.
Daniel moved toward the office before anyone could stop him.
Cole followed two steps behind.
Elise stayed near the nursery with Rosie in her arms while Maisie cried from the crib.
Evelyn remained perfectly still.
That detail lodged itself in Daniel's mind.
The office door opened wider when he touched it.
The room beyond was lit only by the pale blue glow of three computer monitors.
One screen displayed the apartment's security dashboard.
Another showed a login box.
The third showed a folder named R.C. PRIVATE.
Daniel entered.
No one was behind the desk.
The balcony doors were locked.
The adjoining bathroom was empty.
Cole looked around.
"Maybe the system opened the door automatically."
Daniel crouched beside the desk.
A leather desk chair was still turning.
Slowly.
Someone had been sitting there seconds earlier.
He looked toward the service door behind the bookcase.
Very few people knew it existed.
Rebecca had hated it because hotel designers apparently believed wealthy people needed invisible hallways.
Daniel pulled the hidden door open.
The narrow service corridor beyond was empty.
But a small silver keycard lay on the floor.
Cole bent to pick it up.
Daniel stopped him.
"Do not touch it."
Cole gave him a look.
"You think we are in a crime show now?"
"I think someone was at my computer."
"And you think it was Mom?"
Daniel did not answer.
Cole's expression changed.
"Daniel."
"Did she ask you to come here tonight?"
"She said you fired the nanny and were losing it."
Daniel laughed once.
"At what time?"
Cole checked his phone.
"One forty-seven."
Daniel looked toward the hall.
He had not opened the nursery door until after two.
Evelyn had called Cole before Daniel fired Elise.
Cole noticed the implication too.
"That does not mean anything."
"It means she knew something was happening before I did."
Elise appeared in the office doorway with Rosie on her shoulder.
Maisie was now in a carrier against her chest.
Daniel stared.
"How did you get both of them?"
"Your mother would not pick Maisie up."
Evelyn entered behind her.
"Do not make this ridiculous."
Elise looked at Daniel.
"I tried the copy on my phone."
"And?"
"The file is damaged."
Evelyn's gaze shifted.
Daniel saw it.
Again.
He walked behind the desk and touched the keyboard.
The computer required his password.
He entered it.
The private folder opened.
Inside were dozens of files Rebecca had created during the year before her death.
Videos.
Audio notes.
Scanned letters.
Medical records.
Daniel's stomach twisted.
"Why have I never seen this?"
Elise answered softly.
"Because Rebecca password-protected the archive."
"But I just opened it."
"She used your password."
Daniel frowned.
Elise continued.
"She said you would only find it when someone forced you to look."
A folder near the bottom was labeled ELISE - IF NEEDED.
Daniel clicked it.
Empty.
Every file inside had been deleted.
The deletion log showed 2:11 A.M.
Daniel looked at the silver keycard on the carpet.
Elise stepped closer.
"Check the security cameras."
Daniel opened the hallway feed.
The screen went black.
CAMERA ARCHIVE UNAVAILABLE.
Cole cursed.
Evelyn sighed.
"This has gone far enough."
Daniel turned toward her.
"You seem very calm."
"Because I am not going to participate in hysteria."
"You called Cole before I fired Elise."
Her face remained composed.
"I heard you pacing."
"You were not here."
Silence.
Cole looked at his mother.
"Mom?"
Evelyn's eyes stayed on Daniel.
Then Maisie made a small unhappy sound against Elise's chest.
Elise rubbed her back.
Daniel noticed a tiny red light blinking beneath the bookshelf.
It belonged to an old standalone baby monitor Rebecca had installed after the twins were born.
It was not connected to the apartment network.
Daniel crossed the room.
He removed the memory card.
Evelyn's face finally changed.
"Daniel, leave that alone."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
She stepped forward.
"Because Rebecca is gone."
Daniel slid the card into his laptop.
"And somebody in this room is terrified she might still have something to say."
The first video file opened.
Rebecca appeared on-screen.
She was alive.
May you like
She was sitting in the nursery.
And beside her sat Evelyn.
