Chapter 2

Footsteps crunched on the hardwood behind her. Dashiell walked into the study, loosening his tie. He poured two fingers of scotch at the side table, taking a drink before he even turned around.

"Is this over?" he asked. "Leo's upstairs crying. He wants the soup Camilla made, but Mary can't find it."

Seraphina slid the paper across the desk.

"When did Camilla become his primary contact?"

Dashiell glanced down. His eyes hit the red line over her name. He didn't blink.

"Last month," he said, turning back toward the closet to hang up his jacket. "Camilla does the school runs anyway. You rarely leave the house."

He picked up his glass. "Is dinner ready?"

Seraphina picked up her bag, slid the paper inside, and walked past him into the driveway.

By 1:00 AM, Seraphina was sitting on the edge of the mattress in her apartment at Belleview Gardens. She didn't sleep.

At 7:00 AM, her phone buzzed. Mary.

"Mrs. Hale?" Mary's voice was bright over the speaker. "Are you coming back this morning? I thought Miss Camilla would ask you, but she already approved the grocery order. I just wanted to see if you wanted your coffee added."

Seraphina held the phone against her ear. "Camilla approved it?"

"Well, yeah," Mary said. "That's how we usually do it when she stays over."

Seraphina stared at the empty wall across from her.

"Don't order the coffee, Mary."

She hung up. A second later, a text popped up from Dashiell's lawyer:

[Final paperwork is ready. Central courthouse steps. 8:50 AM.]

Seraphina grabbed her coat.