Lily’s accusation returned in my mind.
You knew.
Maybe Vanessa had known some things.
But not all.
Pain has a way of arriving with unexpected complications. It would have been easier to hate her completely. Easier to make her the villain and Daniel the fool. But standing there, watching her shake in my hallway, I realized Daniel had handed out lies like keys, giving each person a different door.
Mr. Meyers spoke quietly. “Ms. Reed, what is the combination?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Daniel’s face hardened. “Don’t.”
She looked at me.
Then she said, “Lily’s birthday.”
My breath caught.
Noah’s soccer ball thudded faintly outside as the wind moved it across the patio.
With stiff fingers, I turned the dials.
0-6-1-4.
The lock clicked open.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Inside the case were three things.
A stack of old documents tied with a blue ribbon.
