Chapter 5 - The Words of a Two-Year-OldDaniel found Lily beneath the breakfast table.
She had crawled behind a chair with her stuffed rabbit, Button, and refused to come out.
"Sweetheart?"
No answer.
He lowered himself onto the kitchen floor.
"Lily, it's Daddy."
Two small blue eyes appeared beneath the tablecloth.
"Water bad."
Daniel felt his throat tighten.
"I know."
"Big water."
"You're safe now."
He reached for her.
Lily flinched.
The movement was tiny.
But Daniel noticed.
He withdrew his hand.
"That's okay. You don't have to come out yet."
He sat on the floor beside the table.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Lily pushed Button toward him.
Daniel accepted the rabbit.
"Thank you."
She crawled a little closer.
"Ca'ire?"
Daniel looked down.
Claire's name had become an unavoidable presence in the house.
Every room reminded him of her.
The children's books she had arranged by color.
The little drawings taped inside the pantry.
The extra pair of socks always tucked into Lily's stroller.
He remembered firing her.
Remembered striking her.
He had convinced himself that anger had justified both.
Now the memory left him nauseated.
"Do you miss Claire?" he asked.
Lily nodded.
"Ca'ire catch."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Yes. She helped you."
The child pressed Button to her chest.
"Mommy mad."
He opened his eyes.
"Mommy was mad?"
Lily nodded again.
Then she raised one small hand and made a sudden outward movement.
"Go."
Daniel stared.
"Who went?"
But Lily had already turned back toward her rabbit.
He did not ask again.
He knew how easily adults could influence a small child's memories with repeated questions.
Instead, later that morning, he called Dr. Shah to describe the behavior and ask about appropriate follow-up.
The physician recommended that they avoid leading questions and arrange an assessment with a qualified child trauma specialist.
"At Lily's age, her words may communicate genuine experiences," she explained, "but they aren't a substitute for an independent investigation."
Daniel thanked her.
When he hung up, he remained at the kitchen table for a long time.
He wanted someone to tell him what had happened.
Someone trustworthy.
Someone who had seen everything.
The obvious person was Claire.
But he had made it impossible for her to trust him.
At eleven, Evelyn arrived.
She found Daniel seated beside Lily's untouched breakfast.
"Vivian out?" she asked.
"At Crescent House."
Evelyn's face tightened.
"That hotel again."
"She's invested a lot in it."
"So I've heard."
Daniel looked up.
"What does that mean?"
His mother sat opposite him.
"How closely have you been reviewing the Learning Fund's financial reports?"
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
"Because there are irregularities."
"Such as?"
"Payments to an educational contractor whose registered business activities don't appear to match the services billed."
Daniel straightened.
"Who?"
"Fairwater Learning."
The name meant nothing to him.
Evelyn continued.
"I've asked Graham for the original agreements. He's avoiding the request."
"Maybe there's a reasonable explanation."
"Perhaps. But I prefer reasonable explanations accompanied by documents."
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Mother, I can't deal with another crisis right now."
Evelyn looked toward Lily, who had climbed into the chair beside him.
"Then perhaps you should consider whether these crises are connected."
Daniel stared at her.
"What?"
She opened her handbag and removed a folded copy of a note.
It was from one of the household staff, written the week before the pool party.
Mrs. Mercer instructed Claire to remove financial records from the study. Claire refused and requested permission to speak with Mr. Mercer.
"Why am I only seeing this now?"
"Because I wanted to understand what it meant before bringing it to you."
Daniel read the note twice.
"Claire never mentioned this."
"Did you give her much opportunity?"
He lowered his gaze.
No.
He had not.
An hour later, Daniel walked to the servants' wing.
Claire's small employee locker had been emptied after her dismissal.
The head housekeeper, Mrs. Finch, stood near the laundry room.
"Where are Claire's things?"
"They were packed and sent to her apartment, sir."
"All of them?"
"As far as I know."
He hesitated.
"Did Claire ever tell you she was worried about Mrs. Mercer?"
Mrs. Finch went pale.
"Sir, I don't want trouble."
"Neither do I."
"With respect, Mr. Mercer, trouble is already here."
Daniel remained silent.
Mrs. Finch glanced toward the corridor.
"Claire loved that child. Everyone knows it. She stayed with Lily through the night when the little one had pneumonia last winter. She missed her own birthday dinner."
Daniel remembered.
He had sent Claire flowers afterward.
It had seemed generous at the time.
"Did you see what happened at the pool?"
"No."
"Then why are you defending her?"
Mrs. Finch's eyes hardened.
"Because she came running when Lily screamed. And Mrs. Mercer didn't."
Daniel felt something shift inside him.
"You're sure?"
"I saw who ran, sir."
Before he could ask another question, his phone rang.
It was Graham Pike.
"Daniel, I need a word."
"About what?"
"Your mother has been asking questions about Fairwater."
Daniel looked at Evelyn's note.
"Yes. She has."
Graham hesitated.
Then he said something that made Daniel stand motionless.
"Claire Bennett stole confidential foundation documents before you dismissed her."
Daniel gripped the phone.
"How do you know?"
"Vivian told me."
"And how did Vivian know what documents were missing?"
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For several seconds, Graham said nothing.
Then the call ended.
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