Chapter 7 - The Man Inside My House.
I called 911 before anyone could tell me I was overreacting.
The dispatcher asked whether the man had permission to enter.
"Absolutely not."
I gave her my address and watched the security feed while officers were sent.
Vincent Cole moved through my foyer as if he had been there before.
He did not wander.
He walked directly toward the hall that led to my office.
"How does he know where he's going?"
Gavin looked at Rebecca.
Rebecca looked at the floor.
I felt my anger settle into something colder.
"How many times has he been in my house?"
"Ethan, listen to me."
"How many?"
"Twice."
Hannah cursed under her breath.
"You brought a lawyer into his house when he wasn't home?"
Rebecca's eyes filled with frustration.
"We were preparing documents."
"Documents about my daughter."
"Documents about our future."
On the camera feed, Vincent disappeared from view near my office.
A second camera showed him emerging two minutes later with a blue folder tucked under his arm.
I knew that folder.
It contained certified copies of Lily's birth certificate, Claire's death certificate, and trust correspondence.
"He's stealing records."
I grabbed my keys.
Caleb caught my arm.
"Police are already going."
"Those are Lily's documents."
"And if you drive angry, Rebecca wins another problem."
I hated that he was right.
So I stayed and watched.
Vincent reached the front door just as two patrol cars pulled into my driveway.
The live feed had no audio, but I saw him freeze.
An officer approached him.
Vincent raised both hands.
The blue folder remained visible beneath his arm.
Rebecca suddenly reached for her phone.
Hannah snatched it from the table first.
"Who are you calling?"
"Give me my phone."
"Were you about to warn him?"
"That is my property."
"So is Ethan's house."
Rebecca lunged for the phone.
Gavin stepped between them.
"Rebecca, stop."
His voice had changed.
He no longer sounded protective of his sister.
He sounded afraid of her.
My phone rang.
It was one of the responding officers.
He confirmed that Vincent claimed he had been authorized by my fiancée to retrieve documents for our marriage file.
"She had no authority to send him into my home."
The officer asked whether I wanted to report the entry and removal of documents.
"Yes."
Rebecca stared at me.
"You would involve the police on our wedding day?"
"You involved a stranger in my daughter's legal records on our wedding day."
The officer said they would hold the documents while the situation was reviewed.
Then he added something unexpected.
"Mr. Hale, there is also a child's passport in this folder."
I frowned.
Lily did not have a current passport.
At least, I did not think she did.
"What name is on it?"
The officer read the name slowly.
Lillian Claire Hale.
The issue date was six weeks earlier.
I had never applied for it.
I looked at Rebecca.
She did not deny knowing about the passport.
May you like
Hannah whispered the question I was suddenly afraid to ask.
"Ethan, if Havenridge was the real plan, why would Rebecca need Lily's passport?"
