Chapter 1: The Camera
Julian Ashcroft had checked the security cameras a thousand times.
He had never expected one of them to destroy his marriage.
At 7:12 on Tuesday morning, Julian sat alone in the back of his black sedan outside Ashcroft Tower, waiting for a conference call with investors in London.
He opened the mansion's security app because an overnight alert had appeared on his phone.
Movement detected: Main Hall.
Julian tapped the notification.
Then he stopped breathing.
His ten-year-old daughter was on her hands and knees.
"Wren?""
Julian leaned closer to the screen.
Wren was still wearing her navy school uniform. Her backpack hung from both shoulders as she pushed a wet cloth across the enormous marble floor.
Her blond hair was tied crookedly behind her head.
Her knees were wet.
Her hands were red.
And every few seconds, she glanced toward the dining room clock.
School started in less than an hour.
Julian switched cameras.
The dining room appeared.
His wife, Corinne, sat at the long table in a silk robe.
A plate of pancakes sat before her.
Fresh berries.
Coffee.
Orange juice.
She casually scrolled through her phone.
Then Corinne lifted her head.
"Don't miss the corners, Wren.""
Julian's fingers tightened around his phone.
On the other camera, Wren looked toward the dining room.
"Yes, ma'am.""
"And when you're finished scrubbing, mop the hallway.""
Wren stopped.
"But I have school.""
Corinne slowly lowered her coffee cup.
"And?""
Wren's shoulders dropped.
"Nothing.""
"That's what I thought.""
Wren started scrubbing again.
Julian stared at the screen.
He had left home forty minutes earlier.
Corinne had kissed him goodbye.
She had smiled.
She had even told him, "Don't worry about Wren. I'll make sure she eats breakfast before school.""
Breakfast.
Julian switched cameras again.
There was no plate waiting for Wren.
No cereal.
No toast.
Nothing.
His daughter was cleaning the floor while his wife ate pancakes.
Wren suddenly sat back on her heels and rubbed her eyes.
Corinne noticed immediately.
"Why did you stop?""
"I'm tired.""
"Finish.""
"My hands hurt.""
Corinne sighed dramatically.
"Wren, I'm not having this argument again.""
Again.
That single word made Julian's blood run cold.
Wren looked down.
"I did the kitchen yesterday.""
"And?""
"And the bathrooms.""
"Because you left your shoes downstairs.""
"I forgot.""
"Actions have consequences.""
Wren's voice became almost inaudible.
"Can I eat first?""
Corinne cut another piece of pancake.
"When the hallway shines.""
Julian opened the car door.
"Mr. Ashcroft?"" his driver asked.
"Take me home.""
"Your London call begins in twelve minutes.""
"Cancel it.""
"Sir?""
"Now.""
The sedan pulled away.
Julian never stopped watching the cameras.
He watched Wren struggle to lift a bucket that was too heavy for her.
Water spilled across her shoes.
Corinne appeared in the doorway.
"Careful!""
"I'm sorry.""
"Do you know how expensive that rug is?""
"I said I'm sorry.""
"Then clean it.""
Wren bent down immediately.
Julian felt something inside him break.
Thirty minutes later, the mansion doors flew open.
"Corinne!""
His voice echoed through the foyer.
Corinne stepped from the dining room.
She was dressed now, perfectly composed.
"Julian?""
Her smile disappeared.
"What are you doing home?""
"Where's Wren?""
Corinne blinked.
"Getting ready for school.""
"Where is my daughter?""
A mop handle struck the wall somewhere behind her.
Julian turned.
Wren stood in the hallway.
Still in uniform.
Still wearing her backpack.
Holding the mop.
Her small hands were bright red.
"Sweetheart.""
Julian crossed the room.
Wren immediately looked at Corinne.
It was only a glance.
But Julian saw it.
Fear.
He crouched in front of his daughter.
"Why are you cleaning?""
Wren forced a smile.
"It's okay, Dad.""
Those four words hurt more than any answer she could have given him.
Julian gently took the mop from her.
"No. It isn't.""
Corinne folded her arms.
"Julian, you're making this into something ridiculous.""
Without looking at her, Julian pulled out his phone.
He pressed play.
Corinne's own voice filled the foyer.
"Don't miss the corners, Wren.""
The color drained from Corinne's face.
Julian turned the screen toward her.
"I watched everything.""
"She needed to learn responsibility.""
"While wearing her backpack?""
Corinne opened her mouth.
"While you ate pancakes?""
"Don't speak to me like I'm some kind of monster.""
Julian pointed toward Wren's hands.
"Look at her.""
Corinne glanced at the child.
"She's fine.""
Julian's expression changed.
Wren noticed.
So did Corinne.
Julian knelt again and carefully took his daughter's hands.
"You're not cleaning another floor in this house.""
Wren's lower lip trembled.
"Okay.""
"I'm taking you to school.""
"Julian—"
He ignored Corinne.
Then Wren whispered something.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"She does this every day.""
Silence.
Julian stared at her.
"Every day?""
Wren nodded.
"Not just today.""
Corinne's voice hardened.
"You're going to believe a child over your own wife?""
Julian slowly stood.
Then he dialed a number.
"This is Julian Ashcroft. I need my attorney.""
Corinne's eyes widened.
"Julian.""
"Immediately.""
He ended the call.
Wren was already walking toward the front door when she suddenly stopped.
She looked back at her father.
"There are cameras downstairs too, right?""
Julian frowned.
"In the basement? Yes.""
Wren swallowed.
"Then you should check Sunday night.""
Corinne dropped her coffee cup.
It shattered across the marble.
May you like
And for the first time that morning, Julian saw something stronger than anger on his wife's face.
Fear.
