Perhaps his mother had convinced everyone that everything was under control.
Or perhaps the truth was much simpler.
Nobody had wanted to challenge the family.
Daniel sat down.
"Is there anything else?"
Marcus hesitated.
"There's something I think you should hear."
He opened the bedroom recording.
Daniel watched Mrs. Bennett entering Lily's room with a glass of milk.
He watched the housekeeper sit beside the child.
Then he heard Lily ask whether her father still loved her.
Daniel's face changed completely.
"Play that again."
Marcus replayed the audio.
"Do you think Daddy still loves me?"
Daniel looked down.
He pressed his fingers against his eyes.
A moment later, his shoulders began to shake.
He was crying.
Not quietly, not discreetly, but with the desperate grief of a man who had suddenly realized how much time he had lost.
Marcus looked away, allowing him a moment.
Daniel finally wiped his face.
"How long has she been feeling this way?"
"I cannot say exactly."
"And my mother?"
"She appears to believe she is acting in Lily's best interests."
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
"Her best interests?"
He looked at the monitor again.
"My daughter is eight years old."
"Yes, sir."
"Eight."
Marcus nodded.
Daniel stood.
"Arrange for me to return to the house immediately."
"Of course."
"And Marcus?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Thank you for showing me this."
Marcus inclined his head.
"She's a good child, Mr. Whitmore."
Daniel looked toward the screen.
"I know."
But his voice broke when he added:
"I just wish I had been there to protect her."
***
At noon, Eleanor received a telephone call from an unfamiliar number.
She answered.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Whitmore?"
"Yes."
"This is the office of Daniel Whitmore. Mr. Whitmore would like to speak with you when he arrives home."
Eleanor frowned.
"He's already on his way."
"Yes, madam. He asked us to inform you that he will be bringing someone with him."
"Who?"
"Marcus Reed."
Eleanor sat upright.
"Why is the security manager coming to my house?"
"I'm afraid I don't have further information."
Eleanor ended the call.
She immediately dialed Daniel's number.
He did not answer.
She tried again.
Nothing.
Her irritation grew.
She called Marcus.
The telephone rang several times before he answered.
"Marcus Reed."
"What is going on?"
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Whitmore."
"Why are you coming to my house with Daniel?"
"I believe Mr. Whitmore will explain."
"Explain what?"
"I'm not in a position to discuss the matter over the telephone."
Eleanor's voice sharpened.
"Are you suggesting that something is wrong with my household?"
Marcus remained calm.
"I'm suggesting that Mr. Whitmore has questions that deserve his attention."
"Questions about what?"
There was a pause.
"About Lily."
Eleanor went silent.
Then she said coldly, "I think you are forgetting your position."
"No, Mrs. Whitmore. I understand my position very well."
"Then remember that you are employed by this family."
"I am aware of that."
"And your job is to protect this residence, not interfere in private family matters."
Marcus looked at the monitor in front of him.
"My job is to report anything that may threaten the safety and well-being of the people inside it."
Eleanor's face hardened.
"Be careful, Marcus."
"I always am, madam."
He ended the call.
Eleanor placed her phone on the table.
For the first time, she wondered exactly what had been recorded.
***
At two forty-five, Daniel's car entered the mansion grounds.
Eleanor stood in the entrance hall waiting.
She had changed into an elegant dark blue dress and arranged her hair carefully. She wanted to appear composed and confident.
Mrs. Bennett stood near the staircase.
"Has Lily returned from school?" Daniel asked as he entered.
"Yes, sir," Mrs. Bennett answered.
"Where is she?"
"Upstairs, sir."
Daniel immediately started toward the staircase.
Eleanor stepped in front of him.
"Daniel."
He stopped.
"Mother."
She smiled, but the expression did not reach her eyes.
"Welcome home."
"Thank you."
"Why didn't you tell me you were bringing Marcus?"
"I wanted him here."
"Why?"
Daniel looked directly at her.
"We need to discuss something."
Eleanor glanced toward the security manager.
"I would prefer to speak to you alone."
"Not this time."
Her smile disappeared.
"Daniel, I have been managing this household for years. I don't understand why you suddenly feel the need to question everything."
He took a breath.
"I watched the recordings."
The words seemed to drain the color from her face.
"What recordings?"
"The security footage."
Eleanor looked toward Marcus.
He did not speak.
Daniel continued.
"I saw Lily on the floor yesterday morning."
"She dropped her things."
"I saw you watching her."
"She needed to learn to be careful."
"I saw her crying."
"Children cry."
"I heard her asking to keep a photograph of Claire."
Eleanor's expression became defensive.
"She is obsessed with the past."
Daniel stared at her.
"She's missing her mother."
"That is exactly why I am trying to help her move forward."
"By making her afraid of you?"
Eleanor raised her voice.
"I have never made that child afraid!"
Daniel did not respond immediately.
He simply looked at her.
Then he asked, "Why does she apologize every time she speaks to you?"
Eleanor opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Daniel continued.
"Why does she look at your face before answering a simple question? Why does she hesitate before asking for something? Why does she believe I might not love her because I haven't come home?"