“He was poisoning her,” Mara said, her voice dropping to a horrified whisper.

“Slowly,” I agreed, the truth cold and heavy in my chest. “Just enough to keep her sick and bedridden.”

“But why?” Mara asked. “Why would he do that to his own wife?”

“Because she knew about the ledger,” I said, touching the worn leather cover on the desk. “She knew about his debts to the syndicate.”

If she was locked away in a private clinic, she couldn’t speak to anyone.

She couldn’t expose him to the Blackwells or the rivals.

“He kept her hidden from everyone,” I said. “Under the guise of saving her life.”

A tear spilled over Mara’s cheek, but she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand.

“He is a monster,” she said.

I looked down at the safety deposit key sitting beside the papers.

It was made of heavy brass, stamped with a number: *408*.

It belonged to the Midwest Union Bank downtown.

“He wanted this key,” I said, picking it up. “He’s been looking for it ever since she died.”

“What is inside the box?” Mara asked.