Chapter 2 - The Gate OpensColin called Mercedes immediately.
She answered after one ring.
“Mr. Colin?”
Her whisper was barely audible.
“Where is Sienna?”
“In the fitness room.”
“Is Valerie still with her?”
“Yes.”
Colin closed his eyes for a second.
“Can Sienna get away safely if you go in?”
Mercedes hesitated.
“I think so.”
“Then don’t confront Valerie.”
His voice was controlled now.
Almost frighteningly calm.
“Stay close. I’m calling the police.”
“Police?”
“I’m not walking into that room angry and giving Valerie a chance to turn this into an argument. I want witnesses.”
Mercedes understood.
“I’ll stay where I can see the door.”
Colin disconnected.
He called 911.
By the time the gate opened, a patrol unit was already being dispatched.
Colin drove slowly toward the mansion.
Not quickly.
Not recklessly.
He forced himself to breathe.
The front door opened before he reached it.
Valerie stepped outside.
She had changed.
That was the first thing Colin noticed.
The fitted athletic clothes from Mercedes’ video were gone.
Valerie now wore cream trousers and a pale sweater.
Her hair had been brushed.
She smiled.
“You’re home early.”
Colin got out of the SUV.
“Where’s Sienna?”
Valerie’s smile shifted.
“Upstairs.”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course.”
Colin stared at her.
Valerie folded her arms.
“What?”
“Bring her down.”
“Colin—”
“Now.”
The softness disappeared from Valerie’s face.
“You don’t come home unexpectedly and start ordering me around in front of the staff.”
Colin heard footsteps behind her.
Mercedes appeared at the end of the hallway.
She said nothing.
But her expression told Colin everything.
Valerie noticed his eyes move.
She turned.
Mercedes stopped.
The two women stared at each other.
Valerie’s face changed.
Not much.
Just enough.
“What did you do?” Valerie asked.
Mercedes swallowed.
Colin stepped through the doorway.
“Where is my daughter?”
Valerie’s voice sharpened.
“I told you. Upstairs.”
Then Sienna appeared.
She stood at the top of the staircase.
Barefoot.
Still wearing the clothes from the video.
Her eyes were swollen.
“Daddy?”
Colin’s face broke.
He crossed the foyer before Valerie could move.
Sienna ran down the last few steps.
Colin knelt.
She slammed into his chest.
For a moment, he could not speak.
Sienna clung to him so tightly that her fingers twisted his jacket.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Colin pulled back.
“Sorry?”
Her eyes dropped.
“I tried.”
“Tried what?”
“To go faster.”
Colin’s expression went still.
Behind him, Valerie said, “This is ridiculous.”
Sienna flinched.
Colin felt it.
The movement was tiny.
Automatic.
That frightened him more than the video.
He stood, keeping one arm around his daughter.
“Don’t speak to her.”
Valerie laughed incredulously.
“You have no idea what happened.”
“I watched what happened.”
Mercedes looked down.
Valerie stared at Colin.
Then at Mercedes.
Realization settled across her face.
“You recorded me.”
Mercedes’ voice shook.
“Yes.”
“You had no right.”
“I had every right to protect a child.”
Valerie stepped toward her.
Colin moved between them.
“Stop.”
Valerie looked at him.
“She was being disciplined.”
“She was crawling on a moving treadmill.”
“She refused to exercise.”
“She’s eight.”
“She’s becoming lazy because everyone in this house treats her like glass.”
Sienna pressed closer to Colin.
He looked down.
Her face had gone pale.
“Mercedes,” Colin said, “take Sienna into the sitting room.”
Valerie moved.
“No.”
Everyone stopped.
Valerie pointed toward Sienna.
“She stays.”
Colin stared at his wife.
“No.”
“She needs to learn that she cannot manipulate you every time she gets consequences.”
Sienna whispered, “I didn’t.”
Valerie looked at her.
“Yes, you did.”
Sienna began shaking.
Colin’s voice dropped.
“Mercedes.”
Mercedes immediately approached.
Sienna looked at Colin.
“You’re coming too?”
“In one minute.”
She did not want to release him.
That nearly destroyed him.
But Mercedes gently took her hand.
They disappeared into the sitting room.
Valerie waited until the door closed.
Then she spoke quietly.
“You are making the biggest mistake of your life.”
Colin almost laughed.
“I think I already made it.”
Sirens sounded faintly beyond the gate.
Valerie’s eyes flicked toward the windows.
“You called the police?”
“Yes.”
“For discipline?”
“For what I saw.”
Valerie’s composure cracked.
Only for a second.
Then she recovered.
“You’re going to embarrass this family over a misunderstanding.”
“This family?”
Colin stepped closer.
“You mean my daughter?”
The doorbell rang.
Valerie stared at him.
Colin opened the door.
Two officers stood outside.
One began speaking to Colin.
The other glanced into the house.
Valerie crossed her arms.
“This is absurd.”
Then a small voice came from the sitting room.
“Daddy?”
Colin turned.
Sienna stood in the doorway.
She was holding something.
A folded piece of paper.
Her hand shook.
“Valerie told me not to show you this.”
Valerie went white.
Colin looked from his daughter to his wife.
“What is it?”
Sienna held out the paper.
“I found it in your office.”
Valerie whispered sharply.
“Sienna.”
One of the officers looked at her.
Colin unfolded the page.
At the top was the name of a company he had never heard of.
Beneath it were six transfers.
Together, they totaled more than four hundred thousand dollars.
And next to each one was his name.
May you like
Approved electronically.
Except Colin had never approved any of them.
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