Chapter 7 - The DrawerDaniel returned to Alyssa’s office before dawn.
The locked drawer was beneath the bookcase.
He had forgotten about it.
Alyssa used to keep personal documents there—passports, old letters, insurance records.
The key was missing.
Daniel now knew who had it.
He did not confront Evelyn.
Instead he called Rebecca.
“Can she legally take Alyssa’s documents?”
“Not if they belong to the estate.”
“What if she already has?”
“Document everything. Don’t search her room yourself.”
Daniel hated the answer.
He wanted to tear the mansion apart.
Instead he made coffee and waited.
At 7:15, Evelyn entered the kitchen.
She wore silk pajamas and carried herself as though nothing had happened.
“Good morning.”
Daniel looked at her hand.
No key.
“Morning.”
Mia entered holding Cooper’s collar.
“Daddy.”
Daniel crouched.
“Hey, bug.”
Mia climbed into his arms.
Evelyn smiled at her.
“Would you like pancakes with Grandma?”
Mia buried her face against Daniel.
“No.”
Evelyn’s smile disappeared.
It returned almost instantly.
“Maybe later.”
Cooper sat beside Mia.
Evelyn walked away.
After breakfast, Daniel took Mia to preschool.
When he returned, two police officers were waiting outside.
Detective Cole held an evidence bag.
“We got the preliminary laboratory report on the vest.”
Daniel’s throat tightened.
“Tell me.”
“The damage was intentional.”
He stared at her.
“You’re sure?”
“Three separate punctures. Similar diameter. No tearing consistent with an animal bite. No manufacturing failure.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
For days he had wanted certainty.
Now that he had it, certainty felt worse.
“Can you prove who did it?”
“Not yet.”
Daniel told her about the missing key.
Cole advised him again not to confront Evelyn.
“We’re working on the contractor camera.”
“Anything?”
“Cloud storage preserved several motion-triggered clips.”
Daniel’s heart leapt.
“Then you have her.”
“Not necessarily.”
“Why?”
“The camera angle didn’t directly face the pool deck. It was aimed toward equipment.”
Daniel’s hope faded.
“But,” Cole continued, “one clip may show a reflection in the glass wall.”
“When will you know?”
“Our digital unit is enhancing it.”
Daniel nodded.
Cole looked toward the house.
“Where is Mrs. Carter?”
“Inside.”
“Keep things normal.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“My daughter nearly drowned. My mother-in-law may have sabotaged her vest. She’s trying to take custody of my child. And you want things normal?”
“For now.”
After the detectives left, Daniel entered Alyssa’s office.
The locked drawer was open.
Empty.
He froze.
Nothing had been broken.
Someone had used a key.
Daniel checked the hallway camera.
The recording from the previous night was missing.
He called the security company.
“Who deleted it?”
The technician checked the access history.
“Administrative account.”
“Whose?”
“There are two.”
“Mine and?”
The technician paused.
“Evelyn Carter.”
Daniel stared at the empty drawer.
Then Cooper entered.
The dog sniffed inside.
He turned.
Walked into the hallway.
Looked back.
Daniel followed.
Cooper moved toward Evelyn’s room.
Stopped outside.
And began scratching at the closed door.
From the other side came Evelyn’s voice.
“Daniel?”
He froze.
Then she said something that made his blood run cold.
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“You really should stop teaching that dog to accuse people.”
Daniel had never told her Cooper had led him there.
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