Chapter 4
Juliet’s attorney was alive.
Dominic had not spoken to Rebecca Shaw in seven years.
He thought she had encouraged Juliet to leave.
She thought Dominic had threatened Juliet into silence.
They were both wrong about pieces.
Rebecca arrived at the police station with a sealed file and a face full of anger.
“I waited for someone to ask the right question.”
Dominic stood.
“Where is Iris?”
Rebecca looked at Detective Walsh, not Dominic.
“Alive.”
The room went still.
Dominic moved one step forward.
His lawyer grabbed his arm.
Rebecca continued.
“She lives under a sealed guardianship with Juliet’s sister, Marianne.”
Dominic’s voice dropped.
“Juliet had a sister?”
“She had a half sister. You met her once. Lucinda later told everyone Marianne was unstable and estranged.”
Dominic remembered a quiet woman at the wedding.
Plain dress.
Nervous hands.
Gone before dessert.
Rebecca opened the file.
Juliet had filed a sealed emergency petition shortly after the twins were born.
Not to terminate Dominic’s rights.
Not to vanish.
To protect both girls while Dominic’s criminal exposure and household security were reviewed.
She requested temporary placement with Marianne.
She alleged that Dominic’s enemies had come close to the house twice.
She alleged that Lucinda controlled too many household communications.
She alleged she was being isolated from independent doctors and lawyers.
A judge did not grant everything.
But the court authorized temporary protective placement for Iris first because Iris had a medical follow-up outside the mansion and could be moved safely.
Maisie was supposed to follow two days later.
Dominic stared at the papers.
“I never saw this.”
Rebecca said:
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because the proof of service says you refused delivery through household counsel.”
“I didn’t.”
“Household counsel at the time was Lucinda’s attorney.”
Dominic slowly turned toward the interview-room glass.
On the other side, Lucinda sat with her lawyer.
Calm.
Perfect.
Cornered.
Rebecca added:
“Juliet was on her way to meet me with more documents the night she disappeared.”
“Was her crash—”
“No evidence proves it was not an accident.”
Dominic hated the answer.
May you like
Rebecca did not soften it.
“But her fear was real. And someone made sure you never learned your second daughter existed.”
