Chapter 2 - The Warm Room.
Charles took Eli into the downstairs guest suite where the fireplace had already been lit by Nora, the longtime housekeeper.
Nora's face went pale when she saw the boy.
She brought blankets, warm socks, and a mug of lukewarm cocoa without asking a single question.
Charles sat on the edge of the bed and kept one hand around Eli's small shoulder.
"You're safe in here."
Eli nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the closed door.
Charles noticed.
"Is there something you're afraid of?"
The boy hesitated.
"Vanessa gets mad when I talk about house things."
Charles kept his voice gentle.
"You don't have to tell me anything until you're ready."
Eli looked down at his hands.
"She said Grandpa would stop loving me if he knew I was bad."
Charles felt his jaw tighten.
He forced his expression to stay calm for the child's sake.
"That is not true."
Eli looked up.
"Even if I break a rule?"
"Even if you break a hundred rules."
A faint uncertainty remained in the boy's eyes.
Charles pulled the blanket higher around him.
Nora returned with a thermometer and quietly suggested they call the family doctor.
Charles agreed immediately.
Daniel appeared in the doorway a moment later.
He looked exhausted now, not defensive.
"Can I come in?"
Eli turned his face toward the fireplace.
Charles saw the answer before the boy said anything.
"Not yet."
Daniel flinched.
"Dad, please."
"Your son is the one who gets to decide when he is ready to see you."
Daniel lowered his eyes.
For several seconds, he stood there like a man who had forgotten how to move.
Then Vanessa's heels clicked down the hallway.
"Daniel, stop letting him take over."
She appeared behind him, still holding the same wine glass.
Charles rose.
"Not in front of Eli."
Vanessa glanced at the boy and lowered her voice.
"Fine."
"You and Daniel wait in the library."
She gave a short laugh.
"You're giving orders now?"
Nora looked at Vanessa for the first time.
"Mr. Mercer has always had authority over the property."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"No one asked you."
Nora did not move.
Charles had known her for thirty-one years.
She had worked in the mansion before Daniel finished high school and before Eli's mother, Rachel, ever entered the family.
Nora rarely challenged anyone openly.
Her decision to speak now mattered.
Charles looked at her.
"Nora, did you know Eli was outside?"
Her face changed.
"No, sir."
"Where were you today?"
"Mrs. Mercer gave the staff the afternoon and evening off."
Vanessa immediately corrected her.
"I gave everyone a holiday bonus and a night with their families."
Nora reached into her apron pocket.
"And you turned off the interior security alerts before we left."
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Because I didn't want the system bothering us all night."
Charles stared at her.
"The security alerts were turned off?"
Daniel looked surprised.
That surprised Charles even more.
Nora nodded.
"The main panel was disabled at eleven this morning."
Charles took out his phone.
"Are the cameras still recording?"
Nora hesitated.
"Usually."
"Usually?"
"The system has a local backup in the old service office."
Vanessa stepped forward too quickly.
"Those cameras have been broken for weeks."
Nora looked at her.
"The front camera was repaired Tuesday."
Silence returned to the hallway.
Charles watched Vanessa's face.
She had been arrogant when accused.
She had been irritated when challenged.
But now, for the first time, she looked worried.
Charles handed his phone to Nora.
"Call Dr. Bennett for Eli."
Then he turned toward Daniel.
"You and I are going to the service office."
Vanessa stepped in front of them.
"No."
Charles looked down at her.
"Move."
She held her ground for one second, then another.
Finally, she stepped aside.
As Charles passed her, he noticed something lying half-hidden beneath the console table.
It was a small navy sneaker.
Eli's sneaker.
Charles picked it up.
Snow had not touched it.
He looked at Vanessa.
"He went outside barefoot."
Vanessa said nothing.
Charles turned the shoe over in his hand.
A strip of masking tape was stuck to the sole.
On it, in black marker, someone had written two words.
NO SHOES.
May you like
Daniel went completely still.
And Charles realized the truth might be worse than he had imagined.
