Just as I finished, another set of headlights cut through the nursery window.

The light swept across the empty cribs and vanished.

The gravel outside crunched under tires.

Another car had arrived.

I walked back to the nursery door and opened it slightly.

The front door opened again down below.

“Daniel,” Ethan said.

“We have a problem,” Daniel’s voice boomed through the foyer.

His footsteps were fast, hard heels clicking on the marble floor.

“Vance told me he was coming here,” Daniel said.

“Why are you both here at this hour?” Ethan asked.

I crept toward the top of the stairs, keeping close to the shadow of the banister.

The landing was dark.

I could see down into the brightly lit foyer.

Daniel stood there, his coat unbuttoned, his face flushed.

Dr. Vance was drying his glasses with a handkerchief.

“It’s about the cleaner,” Daniel said, pointing a finger upward.

My heart did a slow, heavy thud against my ribs.

“Grace?” Ethan asked.

“She was at the hospital again,” Daniel said. “Vance’s staff saw her asking questions about Claire’s admission records.”