And the mystery returned.
Two days later, everything changed.
Mrs. Alvarez was downstairs when I entered Christopher’s study carrying coffee.
He was on the phone.
“No,” he said sharply. “Rachel doesn’t know.”
I froze.
A man’s voice answered through the speaker.
I couldn’t make out every word.
Then I heard one sentence clearly.
“If she finds the file, she’ll know what happened to Ryan.”
My blood turned cold.
Christopher saw me.
His face changed.
He ended the call.
“What file?”
“Rachel—”
“What file?”
He looked toward the door.
“Close it.”
I set down the coffee.
“No.”
“Close the door.”
“Tell me.”
His jaw tightened.
“Please.”
That word stopped me.
Christopher Bennett did not say please.
I closed the door.
He turned toward the desk.
“Bottom drawer.”
“What?”
“Open it.”
I moved around the desk.
The drawer was locked.
He gave me the key from around his wrist.
