Chapter 13
Then I heard him moving.
The phone remained connected. I could hear the faint echo of his footsteps and the opening of a drawer.
“Alexander?”
“I’m here.”
“Did you find it?”
“The box was on my desk when I came in this morning. I assumed Daniel had brought it from the study.”
“Ask him.”
“I will.”
“No. Ask him now.”
He did not protest.
A few seconds later, he called Daniel into the room.
I heard Alexander ask, “Did you place this box on my desk?”
Daniel’s answer was muffled.
“No, sir.”
“Did you remove it from the study?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
“Think.”
“I saw Ms. Carter in the study yesterday.”
The room on my end seemed to grow colder.
Alexander’s voice sharpened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think it mattered. She said she was looking for the restroom.”
“The restroom is on the other side of the house.”
“I didn’t question her.”
“What time was this?”
“Late afternoon. Around four.”
I looked at the letter in my hand.
Olivia had gone into Alexander’s study the day before he sent the box.
“Did you see her leave with anything?” Alexander asked.
“No.”
“Was the box on the desk?”
Daniel hesitated. “I believe so.”
“Believe?”
“I remember seeing a stack of papers and the box beside them. I didn’t pay attention.”
Alexander ended the conversation and returned to the phone.
“She was there yesterday,” he said.
“And the box appeared afterward.”
“I’m going to ask her.”
“Not alone.”
His voice hardened. “Emily—”
“I’m not asking you to confront her. I’m asking you to have someone present who can confirm what was said.”
“I’m not going to threaten her.”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
“Because she lied about speaking to me when Grace died. I don’t know what else she has lied about.”
He was quiet.
“I’ll arrange it,” he said.
“Where?”
“She has an apartment downtown.”
“Not there. Somewhere neutral.”
“I’ll ask her to meet at the hotel.”
“Which one?”
“The Hayes Grand.”
I nearly told him that the thought of entering one of his hotels made my stomach turn.
Instead, I said, “I’m coming.”
The silence that followed was immediate.
“You’re in Toronto.”
“I know.”
“Emily, you don’t have to be here for this.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because the letter concerns me.”
“It concerns what happened to Grace.”
“That concerns me too.”
“You shouldn’t have to sit across from Olivia.”