For most of my adult life, people had answered my questions because they feared the consequences of refusing.

That approach would accomplish nothing here.

I softened my voice.

“Sophie.”

She looked directly at me.

“When did you see the lady?”

The little girl thought carefully.

“When Mommy works late.”

Elena raised one hand to her mouth.

“Where?”

Sophie pointed toward the far side of the nursery.

“She comes from there.”

Nothing stood there except a built-in bookcase.

Marco immediately crossed the room. He removed books. Pressed against the panels. Examined every seam.

Nothing shifted.

“Sophie,” I said, “show me.”

She walked toward the bookcase.

Her small fingers traced the carved wooden border.

Then she crouched down.

Near the floor was a tiny wooden star.

One of dozens incorporated into the decorative nursery trim.

Sophie pressed it.

Click.

The entire bookcase moved forward half an inch.

Marco froze.

I stared.

None of us said a word.

Marco pulled.

The bookcase swung outward like a concealed door.

Beyond it was darkness.

Elena murmured something quietly in Spanish.

Marco raised his flashlight.

A narrow staircase disappeared downward inside the wall.

I glanced back toward the cribs.

The babies were sleeping.

Completely calm now.

“What is supposed to be beneath this room?” Marco asked.

“According to the plans?”

“Yes.”

“Nothing.”

His expression tightened.

“That’s usually the point when I start getting uneasy.”

Sophie looked up at him.

“You said you weren’t scared.”

Marco closed his eyes for a moment.

“Thank you, Sophie.”

Elena pulled her daughter closer.

“You are absolutely not going down there.”

“No,” I said. “Neither are you.”

Elena immediately objected.

“Mr. Moretti—”

“Take Sophie downstairs. Stay with the babies.”

Sophie shook her head hard.

“No.”

Everyone turned toward her.

She pointed toward the staircase.

“My bunny is there.”

“What bunny?” Elena asked.

“The blue one.”

“You don’t own a blue bunny.”

“I did.”

Sophie’s lower lip began trembling.

“The lady gave it to me.”

Another heavy silence filled the nursery.

“When?” I asked.

“Yesterday.”

Elena dropped onto the edge of a chair.

“No.”

Sophie nodded.

“She said I was very brave.”

My heart was beating so violently I could feel every pulse in my throat.

Yesterday.

Isabella had been inside my house yesterday.

Or someone Sophie truly believed Isabella had been.

Marco switched off his flashlight.

“Boss, nobody enters that passage until I bring in a team.”

“No team.”

“Adrien.”

“No.”

His eyes moved toward Elena and Sophie.

Then he lowered his voice.