Chapter 10 - A Father's First DoubtDaniel waited until Emily had finished dinner before asking her about the studio again.
He had learned enough from the police inquiry to understand that repeatedly questioning a frightened child could make things worse.
A child specialist had recommended that he avoid leading questions and allow Emily to speak naturally if she wanted to.
So he sat beside her on the living-room rug and helped build a wooden castle.
For nearly twenty minutes, they said nothing about the incident.
Emily arranged blocks into crooked towers.
Daniel pretended not to notice when she used the blue pieces as windows.
Mara had taught her that.
Blue windows, she used to say, were for houses where people could see the sky.
Finally, Emily looked up.
"Can we go to Grandma Ruth's house?"
Daniel placed a block beside hers.
"Of course."
"Tomorrow?"
"Why tomorrow?"
Emily shrugged.
"She doesn't get mad when I talk about Mommy."
Daniel felt the words settle heavily between them.
"Nobody should get mad about that."
Emily moved a block.
"Vanessa says talking about Mommy makes you sad."
Daniel stared at her.
"Did she tell you that?"
Emily nodded.
"She says I should try to make you happy."
He placed both hands on his knees.
For two years, Daniel had believed Vanessa was helping Emily adjust to a new family.
He had praised her for encouraging the child to move forward.
Now he wondered what moving forward had cost his daughter.
"Emily," he said carefully, "you never have to stop talking about Mommy to protect my feelings."
She looked at him.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Even when you're sad?"
"Especially then."
Emily leaned against him.
Daniel held her gently, fighting an emotion he had spent years keeping out of sight.
Later that evening, after Emily went upstairs, his sister Elena arrived.
At forty-six, Elena Vale was an attorney who had spent much of her career working in nonprofit governance.
She also served as secretary of the Mara Vale Foundation.
Daniel had asked her to examine the Harbor House sale.
She placed a thick folder on his desk.
"I have concerns."
He looked up.
"How many?"
"Enough that I'm embarrassed I didn't catch them earlier."
She opened the folder.
"The board was told the property had serious waterfront repair liabilities. We relied on Owen's financial summary and a consultant's engineering report."
"And?"
"I haven't found the underlying engineering engagement letter. More importantly, the proposed buyer has links to Victor Sloane."
"I noticed."
Elena sat down.
"Mara specifically warned us about transactions involving parties who had previously expressed interest in commercial redevelopment."
"Then why did you approve it?"
She didn't answer immediately.
"Because I trusted Owen. Because I assumed Vanessa had disclosed any conflicts. And because I was tired of arguing with you about Mara's legacy."
Daniel looked at her sharply.
"You never argued with me."
"Exactly."
Elena removed her glasses.
"You disappeared after Mara died. You attended meetings, signed papers, and answered questions about budgets. But whenever anyone mentioned the reason the foundation existed, you changed the subject."
Daniel looked away.
"I was grieving."
"I know."
"You have no idea what it was like."
Elena's expression hardened.
"Don't tell me I didn't lose her too."
They sat in silence.
Then Elena placed another document on the desk.
"This is a list of consulting payments made during the last eighteen months."
Daniel studied it.
One recipient appeared repeatedly.
Crescent Advisory Services LLC
The payments totaled $614,000.
"Who are they?"
"That's what I asked Owen."
"What did he say?"
"He called them a strategic planning contractor."
Daniel frowned.
"Have you found a contract?"
"A generic engagement letter. No meaningful deliverables attached."
He turned the page.
The address belonged to a commercial registered-agent service in Delaware.
"Could be legitimate."
"Yes," Elena said. "But it needs independent review."
Daniel leaned back.
"Who recommended them?"
Elena looked at him.
"Vanessa."
He stared at the figures.
For the first time, the Harbor House transaction and the studio incident seemed connected by something more than coincidence.
Vanessa had controlled access to the recording.
Vanessa had pressed him to sign the sale authorization.
Vanessa had brought Crescent Advisory into the foundation.
And Vanessa had been standing beside the light when Emily nearly got hurt.
Daniel closed the folder.
"I want an independent financial review."
Elena nodded.
"I've already contacted an outside forensic accounting firm. But the board needs to authorize its work."
"Do it."
"Daniel, there may be consequences."
He looked at her.
"There already are."
Elena stood to leave.
At the doorway, she stopped.
"There's something else you should know."
"What?"
"I spoke with the foundation's insurance broker this afternoon."
Daniel frowned.
"About what?"
"Someone submitted a claim alleging that Lily's negligent handling of studio equipment caused Emily emotional distress."
Daniel rose from his chair.
"Who authorized that?"
Elena looked exhausted.
"The submission carries your electronic signature."
Daniel felt the room tilt.
"I didn't sign an insurance claim."
May you like
Elena held his gaze.
"Then someone needs to explain why the foundation's records say you did."
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