Rose remained still, her fingers tightly gripping the brass key.

Richard looked at the key again, a cold smile touching the corners of his mouth.

“A bank logbook from twenty years ago,” he said, shaking his head.

“It proves the connection,” Rose said, her voice trembling but resolute. “It proves you paid off my father’s creditors to keep me away from my baby.”

Richard took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling beneath his tailored gray suit.

He leaned both hands on the marble countertop, leaning toward us.

“Let me explain how the world works, Rose,” he said.

He didn’t look at her; he kept his eyes locked on mine.

“If you try to use that key, or those records, I will destroy you,” he said.

The words were spoken without anger, which made them far worse.

“I have three law firms on retainer,” Richard said.

“I know every creditor your family ever had,” he continued.

“I bought those debts, Rose. I didn’t just pay them off; I transferred them to holding companies I control.”

Rose’s face went completely pale in the dull kitchen light.