Chapter 6
The second code belonged to Dr. Elliot Mercer.
Lily's court-appointed child therapist.
Daniel stared at the screen.
"That cannot be right."
Grace laughed bitterly.
"Of course it can."
Mercer was the man whose report had described Grace as emotionally volatile and Lily as "increasingly secure in the father's household."
That report had helped reduce Grace's visits to supervised contact.
Daniel called his attorney.
At midnight.
"Find out whether Mercer ever disclosed a personal relationship with Vanessa."
His attorney went quiet.
"Daniel, why are you asking?"
"Because he entered my house during an incident involving my daughter and never mentioned it."
Grace sat on the edge of the security desk.
"I told the court he was leading Lily."
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
"I know."
"No. You heard me. You did not believe me."
He deserved that.
Upstairs, police had finished photographing the nursery.
Vanessa was not under arrest yet. The officers said the evidence needed review and the threats on the recorder needed authentication.
Daniel hated the words "needed review."
His daughter had needed him months ago.
Grace watched him.
"Why did you come home tonight with security?"
He looked at her.
"My office received an anonymous email. It said someone might try to enter the house."
Grace's expression changed.
"Vanessa set you up to come home expecting me."
Daniel replayed the timing.
The emergency call.
The bat.
Grace inside the mansion.
Security with him.
A scene prepared in advance.
"How did you get in?" he asked.
Grace hesitated.
Then she reached into her coat and pulled out a folded note.
It had been pushed under her apartment door that morning.
COME TO THE SIDE ENTRANCE AT 7:20.
LILY NEEDS YOU.
DO NOT CALL DANIEL.
No signature.
Daniel looked at the handwriting.
Block letters.
"You came anyway?"
"If there was even a chance Lily needed me, yes."
A sound came from the doorway.
Mason.
"Sir, we checked the side entrance."
He held up a small clear evidence bag.
Inside was a disposable phone.
"It was taped beneath the bench outside."
Daniel's phone rang.
His attorney.
"Daniel," she said, "I found the disclosure forms."
He waited.
May you like
"Dr. Mercer lied."
And then she told him how he knew Vanessa.
