“I want Evelyn’s personal legal files from the safe in the downtown office.”

Sterling’s eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses.

“Those files are confidential, protected by attorney-client privilege between our firm and your late wife.”

“I am the executor of her estate,” Daniel said, his voice ringing out in the quiet corridor.

“I am the privilege.”

He looked back at me, his eyes dark with a determination I had never seen in him during all my months of cleaning his house.

“I will be back, Sarah,” he said.

“Don’t leave me, Daniel,” I whispered, fear gripping my chest.

“If they take me away…”

“They won’t,” he said, his voice softening just a fraction.

“Ruth is on her way up. She will stay with you and the boys.”

As if on cue, the elevator bell chimed at the end of the hall.

Ruth walked hurriedly down the corridor, her coat damp from the rain outside, her hair slightly disheveled.

She looked at Sterling, then at Daniel, and finally at me.

She didn’t ask questions; she simply walked past the lawyer and came to my bedside.