Chapter 4: The Room Behind the Locked Door
Vanessa took a step toward the hallway.
“There's nothing in there worth looking at, Marcus.””
“Then opening it shouldn't be a problem.””
“It's private.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Private? In my home?””
“It's where I keep personal things. Old paperwork. Clothes. Things you wouldn't understand.””
“Then you won't mind showing me.””
Vanessa glanced at the security officers.
Her fingers tightened around the stem of her wineglass.
“I'm not opening that door while you have strangers standing around watching me.””
Marcus turned toward the night manager.
“Please give us some space. Have one officer remain outside the entrance and the other stay near the elevator.””
The manager nodded.
Vanessa waited until the officers moved away.
Then she stepped closer.
“Marcus, listen to me. Whatever Lily told you, she's confused. She has a vivid imagination. Sometimes she makes up stories because she wants attention.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“She's eight years old. She shouldn't have to compete with you for attention.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“Don't speak to me like that.””
“Then don't give me a reason to.””
He walked toward the hallway.
Vanessa followed him.
“Marcus, stop!””
He continued until he reached the large wooden door beside the service corridor.
It was darker than the other doors, with an antique brass handle and a newly installed electronic lock.
Marcus examined the keypad.
“When did you install this?””
“Months ago.””
“Why?””
“For security.””
“What are you protecting?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus turned around.
“Give me the code.””
“I don't remember it.””
“Vanessa.””
“What?””
“Give me the code.””
She stared at him for several seconds before entering four numbers.
The lock flashed red.
INVALID CODE.
Marcus looked at her.
Vanessa blinked.
“Oh. I must have entered it incorrectly.””
She tried again.
The lock flashed red.
INVALID CODE.
Marcus stepped aside.
“Use your key.””
Vanessa's face went pale.
“I don't have it with me.””
“Then we'll contact the building manager.””
She raised her voice.
“This is harassment!””
Marcus remained completely still.
“You have one last chance to open that door willingly.””
Vanessa looked from him to the security officer at the end of the hallway.
Then she reached into her handbag.
Her hand trembled as she withdrew a small brass key.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
Marcus stepped inside.
And stopped.
It wasn't a storage room.
It was an office.
A large desk sat against the far wall. Two computer monitors faced a leather chair. A printer stood beside a filing cabinet, and several banker boxes were stacked neatly beneath a long shelf.
The air smelled of paper, expensive perfume, and something faintly chemical from the printer.
But what caught Marcus's attention was the wall.
It was covered with photographs of Lily.
Lily entering school.
Lily walking beside Vanessa.
Lily sitting alone at the Christmas table.
Lily standing beside the elevator.
Some pictures had dates written beneath them.
Others had short handwritten descriptions.
Refused dinner.
Tantrum, 6:42 p.m.
Disobedient.
Emotional outburst.
Marcus slowly walked closer.
“What is this?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I told you. Personal paperwork.””
He picked up a photograph.
It showed Lily sitting on the floor beside a plate of untouched food.
The date was three weeks earlier.
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“Why is my daughter being photographed like this?””
“I needed documentation. She's been difficult.””
“Difficult?””
“She has behavioral problems.””
Marcus looked at another photograph.
Lily was holding a stuffed rabbit, her cheeks wet with tears.
Beneath it, someone had written:
Refuses to cooperate with household discipline.
Marcus felt his stomach turn.
“Who took these?””
“I did.””
“Why?””
“Because you weren't here to see what I deal with every day.””
He placed the photograph down.
Then he noticed a stack of documents on the desk.
The top page carried his full legal name.
*MARCUS ALEXANDER BENNETT.*
Underneath it was a document titled:
*TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIP AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AUTHORIZATION.*
Marcus read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
His expression changed.
The document would give Vanessa authority over Lily's personal affairs and financial arrangements in the event of his extended absence or incapacity.
At the bottom was a signature.
His signature.
Or something pretending to be it.
He picked up the page.
“Where did you get this?””
Vanessa moved quickly.
“Put that down.””
Marcus stepped away.
“Is this supposed to be my signature?””
“It's a draft.””
“Did you forge my name?””
“Don't be ridiculous!””
“Answer me.””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“You were never here! Someone had to make decisions!””
Marcus put the paper back on the desk.
“Making decisions for Lily doesn't require forging my signature.””
“You don't understand the situation.””
“Then explain it.””
Vanessa looked at the document, then at him.
For the first time, she seemed unable to find the right words.
Marcus opened the top drawer.
Inside was a folder containing bank statements, photocopies of identification documents, and several emails printed on white paper.
One caught his eye.
The subject line read:
*TRANSFER OF BENEFICIAL CONTROL — NEXT STEPS.*
He read the sender's name.
Derek Shaw.
Then he read the message.
Once Marcus signs the authorization, the rest should be straightforward. We need to finish before he returns. Vanessa, make sure he doesn't discover the separate account.
Marcus placed the email on the desk.
“Separate account?””
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
“Marcus, that isn't what it looks like.””
He turned another page.
There were transfers from an account associated with Lily's trust. Small amounts at first, then larger ones.
Some had been sent to a company called Shaw Advisory Group.
Marcus read the figures twice.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“You've been taking money from Lily?””
“It's a temporary arrangement!””
“It's her trust.””
“I was going to put it back.””
“When?””
Vanessa looked toward the door.
Marcus followed her gaze.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
He picked up a small black notebook lying beside the printer.
Its pages were filled with dates, amounts, and notes about Marcus's travel arrangements.
One line was underlined in red:
December 24 — expected return.
Another had been written beneath it:
If he returns early, delay access to accounts.
Marcus stared at the words.
Then he remembered Lily's whisper.
I think Mrs. Bennett knows you were coming tonight.
He slowly closed the notebook.
“Why were you planning for my return?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Because I knew you'd eventually come back.””
“Then why does this say to delay my access?””
She didn't answer.
Marcus placed the notebook beside the authorization.
On the shelf behind the desk sat a small digital recorder.
He picked it up.
Vanessa lunged forward.
“Don't touch that!””
Marcus held it out of reach.
“What's on this?””
“Nothing.””
“Then we can listen.””
“No!””
Her sudden scream made the security officer appear at the doorway.
Marcus looked at him.
“Please make sure nobody touches anything in this room.””
Then he turned back to Vanessa.
“Who are you afraid will hear it?””
Vanessa backed away.
Nobody spoke.
Marcus looked at the recorder again.
He could hear Lily's voice in his memory.
The little girl had said she'd been inside this room once.
He pressed the power button.
A small red light appeared.
The first recording began with a woman's voice.
Vanessa's voice.
“Lily, look at the camera. Daddy needs to understand that you don't want him coming home.””
Marcus went completely still.
Then a child's voice answered.
“Please, I want my daddy.””
The recording continued.
May you like
And Marcus recognized the sound of someone crying.
His daughter.
