that meant it might finally be safe to use the key.”
Adrian stared at her.
Daniel had anticipated this.
Perhaps not Adrian specifically.
But someone.
Someone inside the family who genuinely did not know.
Adrian stood.
“Where is my letter?”
“Arthur has it.”
“He didn’t give it to you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because the envelope says it can only be handed to Adrian Whitmore in the presence of two witnesses.”
“Who?”
“One is Arthur.”
“And the other?”
Marissa’s expression became uneasy.
“That’s the part Arthur wouldn’t explain.”
“Who is it?”
“He said the second witness disappeared four years ago.”
Adrian felt a cold sensation travel through him.
“Disappeared?”
Marissa nodded.
“Not missing. Just… left.”
“Who?”
She looked at the folded page again.
“Someone named Evelyn Keane.”
The surname hung between them.
Adrian’s mind moved rapidly.
“Daniel’s mother?”
“No.”
“Sister?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
Marissa swallowed.
“Because Daniel’s mother was
