Chapter 3 - THIRTY-SEVEN DAYS
The first video lasted four minutes.
Adrian could barely finish it.
Vanessa stood in the kitchen holding Lily's dinner plate.
"Say it."
Lily was crying.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For asking for Daddy."
Vanessa dumped the food into the trash.
The video ended.
Adrian stared at the black screen.
"Next," he said.
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"Sir—"
"Next."
Another day.
Noah was forced to stand facing a wall for two hours while Vanessa sat nearby on her phone.
Another.
Lily was locked in the dark pantry.
Another.
Vanessa grabbed Noah by the shirt and told him if he ever called Adrian during a business trip, she would send him to a school "where nobody visits."
Adrian pressed both hands against the table.
He felt rage rising so hard it scared him.
Detective Maya Torres arrived before he watched the fifth file.
She did not care that the house belonged to one of the richest men in the state.
"I need copies."
"Take everything."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Those recordings are private."
Torres looked at her.
"So is a child's bedroom. You seem comfortable entering that."
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
A social worker examined Lily and Noah while the pediatrician documented bruises, dehydration, and weight loss.
Adrian sat in the hallway, unable to look at anyone.
Noah came out first.
"Dad?"
Adrian stood.
"Yeah."
"Are you mad at me?"
The question broke him.
He knelt.
"Never for telling the truth."
Noah nodded, but did not look convinced.
Then he reached into his pocket.
"I saved this."
A small silver key rested in his palm.
"What is it?"
"Vanessa dropped it when she was in your office."
Adrian frowned.
"When?"
"Last week."
"What was she doing in there?"
Noah swallowed.
"Copying papers."
Adrian took the key.
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Stamped into one side were two words.
PRIVATE VAULT.
