Chapter 7 - The Man Inside Brett’s House
Brett’s security chief was named Daniel Cross.
He had worked for the Calder family for eighteen years.
He had protected Brett at shareholder meetings, traveled with Valerie, and stood outside Lena’s funeral.
Grant had been the man who hired him.
That fact suddenly mattered.
Brett called Daniel into his office.
“Who knew which room the girls were in?”
Daniel remained expressionless.
“Hospital staff. Police. CPS. Your legal team.”
“Security?”
“Myself and two supervisors.”
“Grant?”
“I didn’t tell him.”
“Did anyone?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“I’ll audit communications.”
“No.”
Brett stepped closer.
“You’ll give Rachel access to the audit logs.”
Daniel frowned.
“You don’t trust me?”
“I don’t know.”
The answer wounded him.
Good, Brett thought.
For once, someone else could live with uncertainty.
Within two hours, Rachel found an unauthorized access entry on a Calder security account.
Someone had viewed hospital transport arrangements and renovation cameras using credentials belonging to a retired supervisor.
The login originated inside Brett’s townhouse.
Brett went cold.
“Who had access?”
“Staff.”
“My daughter was sleeping there last week.”
“I know.”
They searched the home system.
A hidden administrative device had been connected behind the office router.
Not sophisticated enough for intelligence work.
Sophisticated enough for household surveillance.
Daniel stared at it.
“I didn’t install that.”
Brett looked at him.
“Then find who did.”
House staff interviews produced one answer.
Eunice had visited Brett’s study three weeks earlier while Valerie was upstairs.
She claimed she needed a charger.
Brett called her immediately.
“Did you install a device in my office?”
“What?”
“Answer.”
“No.”
“Did Grant ask you to?”
“No!”
For once, her outrage sounded genuine.
Rachel interrupted.
“Ask who else knew she was there.”
Eunice hesitated.
“Grant.”
Brett closed his eyes.
“Why?”
“He called while I was at your house.”
“Did you tell him where you were?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone arrive?”
“No.”
Then Eunice remembered.
“A repairman.”
Brett looked at Daniel.
“What repairman?”
“The internet went down that afternoon.”
Daniel searched records.
No service call existed.
Someone wearing a telecommunications uniform had entered the townhouse using a maintenance code.
The code belonged to Calder Properties.
Grant still possessed executive-level access.
Brett’s anger became something quieter.
More useful.
“Change every code.”
“Already happening,” Daniel said.
“And remove anyone whose credentials trace to Grant.”
Daniel looked at Brett.
“That includes me.”
Brett held his gaze.
“Yes.”
Daniel nodded once.
“I understand.”
He placed his company badge on the desk.
Before leaving, he added, “For what it’s worth, I hope you find Marnie.”
Brett did not respond.
Later, family court granted Vera and Violet temporary placement with Brett under supervision.
Naomi accompanied them to the townhouse.
The girls entered like visitors in a museum.
Vera stared at the staircase.
Violet stared at the chandelier.
Valerie ran ahead.
“This is our room.”
“Our?” Vera asked.
“You can sleep with me.”
Naomi smiled.
Brett said, “You each have your own room too.”
Vera’s face changed.
“What if we don’t want separate rooms?”
“You don’t have to use them.”
“What if someone says we do?”
“No one will.”
She looked unconvinced.
Brett understood.
He had spent his life believing space meant freedom.
For Vera, space meant separation.
At dinner, the cook served roast chicken, potatoes, and vegetables.
Vera quietly slid two rolls into her sweater.
Brett noticed.
He said nothing.
Afterward, he placed a basket of snacks in the girls’ room.
“You never need permission to eat here.”
Vera looked embarrassed.
“I wasn’t stealing.”
“I know.”
She studied him.
“Aunt Marnie says people with big houses get mad when things go missing.”
“She’s right.”
“So you’re mad?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because bread isn’t what I’m missing.”
Vera looked away.
That night, Violet could not sleep.
Brett found her sitting outside his office holding Lena’s locket.
“Bad dream?”
She nodded.
“What happened?”
“I forgot Aunt Marnie’s face.”
“You won’t.”
“What if she’s dead?”
Brett sat beside her.
“I don’t know where she is.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
He recognized Lena in that too.
“No,” Brett admitted. “It isn’t.”
Violet leaned against the wall.
“Aunt Marnie said you always told the truth badly.”
Brett almost laughed.
“She knew me.”
“She said Mommy loved you anyway.”
The word anyway pierced him.
His phone rang.
Rachel.
“We found Marnie.”
Brett stood so quickly Violet jumped.
“Where?”
“Mount Sinai.”
“What?”
“She was admitted under another name forty-eight hours ago.”
“Why?”
“She was attacked near the subway.”
Brett’s grip tightened.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“Can she speak?”
“Yes.”
Rachel paused.
“And Brett?”
“What?”
“She says she knows who ordered someone to follow her.”
“Grant?”
“No.”
Brett looked toward the stairs, where Eunice stood in the shadows.
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Rachel’s next words came clearly through the phone.
“Marnie says it was Eunice.”
