Michael stood perfectly still.
“She told William that Peter had been watching you at school. You were fourteen. Olivia said that if William went to the police, Peter would make sure you were hurt.”
Clara made a small sound.
Michael turned to her.
“Mom?”
Clara closed her eyes.
There had been a winter when William had insisted on driving Michael to school and picking him up. There had been a broken window at the house, anonymous calls in the middle of the night, and a strange man sitting in a parked car across the street. William had called it a business dispute.
Clara had never known the truth.
“Your father thought silence would keep you safe,” Daniel said. “He was wrong about one thing. Silence only gave Olivia time.”
Olivia shook her head.
“I never touched that money.”
“You signed the documents,” Daniel said.
“I was desperate.”
“You threatened Anna.”
“I was afraid.”
“You let William believe his son was in danger.”
Olivia’s breathing became shallow.
Michael stepped away from her.
The movement was small, but it changed the entire room. The distance between them was only a few feet. It looked wider than the ballroom.
Clara reached into her handbag and took out the velvet box.
She placed it beside the documents.
“I brought these for you,” she said.
Michael looked at the box but did not open it.
“I thought you should have something your father chose for you.”
Olivia laughed once, sharply.
“Of course. She wants to make this into some noble family tragedy.”
Clara turned toward her.
“No. You did that.”
The words settled with more force than shouting would have carried.
Daniel put the cassette into a small recorder he had brought from his coat pocket. He pressed the button.
