But Nora was not acting alone.
Beneath those words was a name.
Mr. Bennett.
I felt the room turn cold.
Carl’s recording continued.
“If Bennett gave you the key, then he decided to follow my instructions. That means he still believes the chest contains only the version of the truth I allowed him to see.”
Footsteps sounded on the porch.
Slow.
Measured.
Real.
I froze.
The recorder played on.
“Anna, Bennett was never merely my lawyer. He worked for Victor. Later, he worked for Nora. I kept him close because it was the only way to watch him.”
The doorknob moved.
I looked toward the entrance.
“Do not trust him,” Carl warned. “And do not let him know about the second compartment.”
The door opened.
Mr. Bennett stood on the porch.
He no longer wore his dark suit. A raincoat hung from his shoulders, and mud covered his shoes. His expression remained calm, but the gentleness had disappeared from his eyes.
