Chapter 1 - Before You Blame Me
Sophie Bennett’s scream cut through the nursery before Rachel Moore reached the doorway.
Rachel had heard the ten-month-old cry hundreds of times—hungry cries, tired cries, angry cries when someone took away a toy.
This was different.
Rachel ran.
Inside the warm chandelier-lit nursery, Vanessa Cole stood beside the gold crib. An electric iron was in her hand.
Sophie was screaming.
Rachel reacted before she could think.
She drove Vanessa away from the crib. The iron flew from Vanessa’s hand, struck the wall and dropped onto a white towel. Smoke curled upward as the towel began to burn.
“She has to learn who’s in charge,” Vanessa snapped.
Rachel ignored her.
She scooped Sophie from the crib.
The baby’s hand was injured.
“Sophie—stay with me!”
Sophie’s cries weakened as Rachel held her against her shoulder.
Then Vanessa struck Rachel across the face.
Before Rachel could recover, the nursery door flew open.
Ethan Bennett stood there.
His eyes went immediately to his daughter.
Then Vanessa changed.
The fury vanished from her face.
“Ethan—she did this to Sophie!”
Rachel stared at her.
“No—”
Ethan didn't wait.
He ripped Sophie from Rachel’s arms and held the baby tightly against his chest.
“What have you done to her?!”
Rachel tried to point toward Vanessa.
Toward the iron.
Toward the burning towel.
But Ethan was already moving.
His furious reaction knocked Rachel backward into the wooden clothing rack.
Wood cracked.
Rachel collapsed beneath it.
For several seconds she couldn't breathe.
Vanessa stood behind Ethan.
Watching.
Not Sophie.
Rachel.
That was when Rachel understood.
Vanessa wasn't frightened because Sophie had been hurt.
She was frightened Rachel had witnessed it.
Rachel reached beneath her blouse.
Her trembling fingers closed around the object she had been carrying for nine days.
A small USB drive.
She raised it.
Then, despite the pain, Rachel laughed weakly.
“See what’s on this before you blame me.”
Ethan froze.
Vanessa’s face lost every trace of color.
That reaction changed the room.
Ethan noticed.
Rachel noticed him noticing.
“What is that?” Ethan demanded.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Don't touch it.”
Ethan slowly turned toward her.
It was the first mistake Vanessa made.
Rachel lowered her shaking hand slightly.
“You recognize it.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Sophie whimpered against Ethan’s chest.
Ethan looked at the smoking towel, the iron on the floor and then the security camera above the doorway.
His expression shifted.
“Camera.”
Vanessa looked up.
The small black indicator light was dark.
Rachel whispered:
“She turned it off.”
Ethan stared at Vanessa.
Vanessa stared at the USB.
Then the nursery lights suddenly went out.
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The mansion fell black.
And from somewhere downstairs came the sound of breaking glass.
