Chapter 3: The House Had Already Been Entered
The words on the officer's lips seemed to hang in the hallway.
*NEXT TIME, WE WON'T LEAVE HER ALIVE.*
Lily tightened her arms around my neck.
I could feel every tiny breath against my shoulder.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then I said, “Where is the officer who found it?””
“I’m the officer,” the man replied.
He stepped closer and held out his badge.
“Detective Harris. Major Crimes.””
I barely looked at it.
“Was anyone hurt?””
“No.””
“Was Lily’s room damaged?””
“A little.””
“Was anything taken?””
“We’re still determining that.””
My eyes went to Victoria.
She had gone completely white.
Harris noticed.
“You know her?””
“She’s my fiancée,” I said.
Harris looked at her for a long moment.
Then he asked, “Have you been inside the Bennett residence recently?””
Victoria hesitated.
“No.””
I answered before she could say anything else.
“Officer, tell me exactly what happened.””
Harris glanced around the hotel corridor.
“Can we speak somewhere private?””
I nodded.
My groomsman, Tyler, led us into a small conference room.
Lily stayed in my arms.
Victoria followed.
Detective Harris shut the door.
“There are signs of forced entry at the rear of the house,” he said.
“Not a sloppy break-in. Someone disabled the alarm first.””
I frowned.
“The alarm has a backup battery.””
“I know.””
He placed a photograph on the table.
It showed the security panel.
The wires had been cut cleanly.
“Who has access codes?”” Harris asked.
“Me. My housekeeper. Victoria.””
He stopped writing.
“Victoria has an access code?””
“She’s been my fiancée for over a year.””
Harris looked at her.
“What code?””
Victoria swallowed.
“I don't remember.””
“You don't remember the code to your fiancé's home?””
“It changes.””
I stared at her.
“No, it doesn't.””
She looked at me.
“I thought you changed it.””
“I haven't changed it in three years.””
Silence.
Harris wrote something down.
“Anyone else?””
“No.””
“What about a spare key?””
“I keep one in the kitchen.””
“Still there?””
“I don't know.””
Harris nodded.
“We found it missing.””
I felt Lily move in my arms.
“Did anyone enter her bedroom?””
“Yes.””
“Anything else?””
He reached into a folder.
“We found a photograph on the pillow.””
He slid it across the table.
It was a picture of Lily sleeping.
The same picture from the second phone.
I looked at the timestamp.
Two nights ago.
My stomach turned.
“How did they get this?””
“We don't know yet.””
Harris pulled out another photograph.
This one showed the wall above Lily's bed.
Written in thick black marker were the words:
*NEXT TIME, WE WON'T LEAVE HER ALIVE.*
Lily saw the picture.
Her eyes widened.
I immediately turned it over.
“Do not let her see that.””
Harris nodded.
“She shouldn't know.””
Victoria suddenly spoke.
“Did they leave anything else?””
Harris looked at her.
“Yes.””
Her face tightened.
“What?””
“A children's drawing.””
I looked at Lily.
“What drawing?””
“It was taped beside the message.””
Harris placed another photograph on the table.
It showed a crayon picture of three people holding hands.
Lily.
Me.
And Victoria.
But someone had drawn a black line through Victoria's face.
My stomach dropped.
“Who drew that?””
“We're investigating.””
Victoria's chair scraped backward.
“That wasn't Lily.””
I turned.
“How do you know?””
“Because she gave it to me last week.””
Lily suddenly spoke.
“I didn't.””
Victoria stared at her.
“Yes, you did.””
“No.””
“You drew that picture.””
“I drew Daddy and me.””
Victoria went silent.
Lily looked down at her dress.
Then she whispered, “You added yourself.””
The room became very quiet.
Harris looked between them.
“When did that happen?””
Lily thought.
“Tuesday.””
“And who else was in the house?””
“Victoria.””
I stared at my fiancée.
She rubbed her hands together.
“Mark, this is getting out of control.””
“You were at my house Tuesday?””
“I came by.””
“You said you weren't.””
“I forgot.””
“You forgot spending time at my house?””
“I was stressed.””
I stood.
“So you lied.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
Victoria looked at Harris.
Then at me.
“I told you there are things you don't understand.””
Harris leaned forward.
“Then explain.””
Victoria shook her head.
“Not here.””
“Why not?””
“Because I don't know who I can trust.””
Harris's expression hardened.
“That's exactly the kind of answer that makes me believe you're involved.””
Victoria looked at me.
“Mark, you have to listen to me.””
“I've listened enough.””
“No. You haven't.””
She lowered her voice.
“The person threatening Lily isn't doing this because of the wedding.””
I stopped.
“Then why?””
“Because they know about the trust.””
Harris immediately looked up.
“What trust?””
Victoria looked like she wanted to disappear.
I answered.
“My father supposedly left something hidden.””
“Supposedly?”” Harris asked.
“I didn't know it existed until today.””
Victoria interrupted.
“Your father knew.””
Harris looked at her.
“How?””
“Because I found the records.””
I stared at her.
“Where?””
“In his old office.””
“You went through my father's things?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From Daniel?””
She didn't answer.
Harris leaned forward.
“Who is Daniel?””
Victoria looked toward the window.
“I don't know his full name.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's convenient.””
“He contacted me nine months ago.””
“What did he want?””
“Information.””
“About me?””
“Yes.””
“What kind?””
“Your finances. Your father's estate. The lake house.””
My chest tightened.
“You knew about the lake house.””
“I told you about it.””
“You knew before tonight.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Daniel knew.””
The room fell silent.
Harris stood.
“Everyone stays here.””
He walked toward the door.
“Where are you going?”” I asked.
“To speak with my team.””
Before he opened it, I said, “Detective.””
He turned.
“Does this threat mean Lily is in immediate danger?””
Harris paused.
“Yes.””
My grip tightened around my daughter.
“Then I need protection.””
“You do.””
“Right now?””
“Right now.””
He opened the door.
Two uniformed officers were standing outside.
“Mr. Bennett,” Harris said, “we'll escort you to a secure location.””
Victoria stood immediately.
“I'll come.””
I looked at her.
“No.””
Her face crumpled.
“Mark—”
“You're not coming.””
“I know something about this.””
“Exactly.””
“I can help.””
“You can start by telling me everything.””
She stared at me.
“I will.””
“Now.””
Her eyes shifted toward the officers.
Then she whispered, “Not here.””
I was done with secrets.
“Then you're staying with the police.””
She looked shocked.
“You'd have me arrested?””
“I didn't say arrested.””
“You don't trust me.””
“No.””
That one word destroyed whatever was left of her composure.
She sat back down.
Harris returned and handed me a card.
“Your daughter goes with you. We’ll have an officer follow.””
“What about Victoria?””
“We'll take her statement separately.””
Victoria suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
“Mark.””
I looked down.
She was crying.
“Please don't go to the lake house.””
“You just told me to.””
“I changed my mind.””
“Why?””
She looked past me.
At Lily.
“She knows something.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
“Lily.””
I turned toward my daughter.
She was watching Victoria.
Not with fear.
With something else.
Recognition.
I crouched beside her.
“Sweetheart?””
She didn't answer.
“Lily, what does she know?””
Her lower lip trembled.
Then she whispered:
“I saw the man.””
My entire body went still.
“What man?””
“The man in the house.””
Harris hurried over.
“When?””
“Last night.””
I looked at Victoria.
She had stopped crying.
“Lily,” I said gently, “what did he look like?””
She stared at the floor.
“He was tall.””
“What else?””
“He wore a black jacket.””
“Did you see his face?””
She nodded.
I felt my heart pounding.
“Where?””
“In the hallway.””
Harris knelt in front of her.
“Did he speak to you?””
Lily nodded.
“What did he say?””
She looked at me.
“He told me not to tell Daddy.””
“Why?””
“He said Daddy would go away.””
My stomach twisted.
“Then what happened?””
“He opened my bedroom door.””
Harris exchanged a glance with me.
“What did you do?””
“I hid under my bed.””
Lily's voice became smaller.
“He looked for me.””
“Did he find you?””
“No.””
“Then how did you get out?””
She shook her head.
“I didn't.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
She lifted one trembling hand and pointed toward Victoria.
“Victoria came.””
The room went silent.
I turned toward my fiancée.
“You were there?””
Victoria couldn't answer.
Lily continued.
“She talked to the man.””
I stared at Victoria.
“What did they say?””
Lily squeezed my hand.
“I heard the man say…”
She paused.
Then she repeated the words.
“Once Daddy marries Victoria, he won't need Lily anymore.””
Victoria's face collapsed.
I took one step toward her.
She stepped backward.
“Mark—”
But Lily wasn't finished.
“The man gave Victoria an envelope.””
Harris's voice sharpened.
“What was inside?””
Lily looked at me.
“A picture.””
“Of what?””
She swallowed.
“Of Mommy.””
I couldn't breathe.
My wife had been dead for four years.
There should not have been any reason for anyone to have a new photograph of her.
Especially not a stranger who had been inside my home.
I looked at Victoria.
She whispered, “Mark…”
“Where is that photograph?””
She didn't answer.
“Victoria.””
Her hand slowly moved toward the inside pocket of her wedding dress.
And when she pulled out the envelope, I saw the same handwriting as the message on Lily's bedroom wall.
The envelope had my name written across it.
May you like
And beneath my name were four words:
*ASK HER HOW SHE DIED.*
