THE CAMERA NEVER BLINKS

The police took Vanessa in for questioning that night.

They did not arrest Adrian immediately for slapping Clara, but they documented the incident and told him the report would be forwarded to the prosecutor. Vanessa, meanwhile, was detained while detectives reviewed the video and her statements.

The house became unbearably quiet after midnight.

Emma finally slept in Olivia's room because Clara refused to leave her alone.

Adrian stood in the kitchen with an untouched cup of coffee.

Clara entered wearing sweatpants and an old college sweatshirt. The red mark on her cheek had darkened.

“Clara.”

She opened a cabinet.

“I need to tell you something,” he said.

She took down a mug. “You already did.”

He closed his eyes.

“I was wrong.”

“Yes.”

“I was terrified.”

“So was I.”

“I thought Emma—”

“You thought the worst thing about me in less than ten seconds.”

Adrian had no defense.

Clara poured hot water over tea.

Then she said, “I found the transfers three weeks ago.”

His head lifted.

“What?”

“I didn't know who was behind them. I thought accounting had made a mistake. I started comparing invoices.”

She opened her phone and showed him photographs of documents.

“Northlight billed Mercer for consulting on six properties. Three of those properties don't exist. Two were sold before the invoice dates. The sixth is an empty lot in Nevada.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I was going to. Tonight.”

Adrian remembered the family dinner they had planned before everything exploded.

Clara continued. “Yesterday I asked Vanessa whether she knew who created Northlight as a vendor.”

Adrian's skin went cold.

“What did she say?”

“She smiled and told me to stop digging into things I didn't understand.”

Upstairs, a floorboard creaked.

Both looked toward the ceiling.

Olivia appeared at the kitchen doorway.

“I couldn't sleep.”

Clara softened. “Come here.”