Chapter 3: The Locked Drawer
The doorknob moved again.
Julian closed the document.
"Who's there?""
Silence.
He crossed the study and opened the door.
Corinne stood in the hallway.
She held a glass of water.
"Paranoid now?""
"You were listening.""
"I live here.""
Julian looked at the untouched water.
"What is Blackwood?""
For the first time, Corinne lost control of her expression.
Only for a second.
But Julian saw it.
"I don't know.""
"Wrong answer.""
"Julian, I have no idea what you're talking about.""
He held up his phone.
"Blackwood Children's Behavioral Residence.""
Corinne looked away.
"Maybe it's something the school recommended.""
"Wren's school doesn't make recommendations using my forged signature.""
Corinne's eyes snapped back to him.
"Forged?""
"My attorney confirmed I never authorized that petition.""
"Then perhaps you forgot.""
Julian almost laughed.
"You think I forgot signing away authority over my daughter?""
"You sign hundreds of documents.""
"Not about Wren.""
Corinne placed the glass on a table.
"You're upset.""
"I'm beyond upset.""
"Then don't make permanent decisions tonight.""
Julian stepped closer.
"What were you planning?""
"Nothing.""
"Were you planning to send my daughter away?""
"No.""
"Then why is Blackwood named in a legal document?""
"I said I don't know!""
The shout echoed through the hallway.
Julian stared at her.
Corinne lowered her voice.
"You've been traveling constantly. Someone had to make decisions.""
"Then you call me.""
"I did.""
"No, you didn't.""
"You weren't available.""
"I'm her father.""
"And I'm your wife!""
"That does not make her yours to punish.""
Corinne's face twisted.
"Punish?""
She pointed downstairs.
"I have spent eighteen months dealing with tantrums, disrespect, messes, school complaints—"
"What school complaints?""
Corinne stopped.
Julian's voice became dangerously quiet.
"What school complaints?""
"Little things.""
"Name one.""
Corinne said nothing.
Julian immediately called Wren's school.
The administrator answered after several rings.
"This is Julian Ashcroft. I need to speak with Principal Bennett.""
"Mr. Ashcroft, she's currently—"
"Tell her it's about Wren.""
Two minutes later, Principal Bennett came on.
"Mr. Ashcroft?""
"Has Wren been having behavioral problems?""
A pause.
"No.""
"Discipline issues?""
"None.""
"Complaints?""
"Actually...""
Julian's stomach tightened.
"What?""
"We've been concerned about her.""
Corinne turned away.
Julian watched her.
"Concerned how?""
"She has been arriving tired. Sometimes without breakfast. She fell asleep during reading last Thursday.""
Julian closed his eyes.
"Why wasn't I told?""
Another pause.
"We contacted the guardian number listed in her updated file.""
Julian opened his eyes.
"Whose number?""
"Mrs. Ashcroft's.""
Corinne began walking away.
"Stay right there.""
She stopped.
Principal Bennett continued.
"Mrs. Ashcroft assured us Wren had been struggling with sleep because she was adjusting to new household responsibilities.""
"Household responsibilities?""
"That's what she said.""
Julian's hand tightened around the phone.
"Did Wren tell anyone anything?""
"She told her teacher she wasn't allowed to discuss home.""
Julian looked at Corinne.
His wife was staring back at him.
No apology.
No shame.
Only calculation.
"Thank you, Principal Bennett.""
After ending the call, Julian pointed toward the guest wing.
"Pack a bag.""
Corinne laughed.
"No.""
"I'm not asking.""
"This is legally my residence.""
"Then I'll leave with Wren tonight.""
That finally shook her.
"You can't.""
"Why?""
"You just can't.""
Julian studied her.
Then he understood.
"There is something here you don't want me finding.""
Corinne's face went blank.
Julian turned toward the staircase.
"Where are you going?""
"Your office.""
"Julian.""
He kept walking.
"Julian!""
Corinne ran after him.
Her private office was on the second floor.
She stepped in front of the door.
"You don't have permission to go through my things.""
"In my house?""
"They're private.""
"Move.""
"No.""
Julian stared at her.
Then he noticed something.
Corinne's right hand was trembling.
Not much.
But enough.
He stepped around her.
She grabbed his arm.
"Don't.""
Julian pulled free.
The office looked immaculate.
Desk.
Bookshelves.
Laptop.
Filing cabinet.
He opened the first drawer.
Receipts.
The second.
Tax documents.
The third was locked.
Corinne stood behind him.
"Stop.""
Julian looked at the drawer.
"What is inside?""
"Personal documents.""
"Give me the key.""
"No.""
Julian took out his phone.
"I can have a locksmith here in fifteen minutes.""
"You're insane.""
"Fourteen.""
Corinne suddenly reached for the drawer.
Julian caught her wrist.
"Don't.""
"Let go of me.""
"Give me the key.""
Corinne jerked free.
For several seconds they stared at each other.
Then Julian noticed the thin gold chain around her neck.
A tiny key hung from it.
Corinne covered it instinctively.
That was enough.
"Take it off.""
"No.""
"Corinne.""
"These are my private papers!""
"Then why are you terrified?""
She backed toward the door.
Julian didn't follow.
Instead, he called mansion security.
"Marcus, come upstairs.""
Corinne's face changed.
"You wouldn't.""
"I absolutely would.""
Two minutes later, the head of security arrived with a staff locksmith.
Corinne screamed as the lock clicked open.
"You have no right!""
Julian pulled the drawer toward him.
Inside were several folders.
One carried Wren's name.
Another contained copies of Julian's signatures.
Dozens of them.
Practice sheets.
His signature repeated again and again.
Julian looked up.
Corinne was pale.
"What is this?""
She said nothing.
He opened Wren's folder.
Blackwood brochures.
Admission forms.
Medical authorization papers.
A scheduled intake date.
Friday.
Three days away.
Julian felt physically sick.
"You were sending her away Friday?""
"Let me explain.""
"You told her?""
"No.""
"Does Wren know?""
"No!""
Julian slammed the folder onto the desk.
"Why?""
Corinne's eyes filled with tears.
But Julian no longer trusted her tears.
"Because she hates me!""
"She's a child!""
"She was destroying our marriage!""
"No, Corinne.""
Julian's voice cracked.
"You were destroying her childhood.""
He reached deeper into the drawer.
His fingers touched a small black notebook.
Corinne lunged.
"Don't!""
Julian pulled it away.
Her panic became immediate.
"Give me that.""
"What is it?""
"Julian, please.""
It was the first time she had said please.
He opened the notebook.
Dates.
Times.
Payments.
Names.
Beside several entries were initials.
And beside Wren's name was a dollar amount.
$250,000.
Julian frowned.
"What is this?""
Corinne stopped struggling.
He turned another page.
There were more payments.
One from an account Julian recognized.
An Ashcroft family trust.
But Julian had never authorized the withdrawal.
Then he reached the final written page.
At the top was a date.
Friday.
Below it were three words.
TRANSFER WREN — FINAL.
And underneath, written in Corinne's handwriting:
Payment released after permanent placement.
Julian slowly lifted his eyes.
"Someone is paying you to get rid of my daughter?""
Corinne's mouth opened.
Before she could answer, Julian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Julian Ashcroft?""
"Yes.""
A woman's frightened voice whispered from the other end.
"My name is Dr. Elena Ward. I work at Blackwood.""
Julian looked at Corinne.
Corinne's face turned white.
Dr. Ward continued.
"You don't know me, but I saw your daughter's intake file.""
"What about it?""
The woman took a shaky breath.
"Mr. Ashcroft, whatever your wife tells you, do not bring Wren here.""
Julian's heart pounded.
"Why?""
There was a long silence.
May you like
Then Dr. Ward whispered:
"Because Wren isn't the first Ashcroft child Corinne tried to send us.""
