“I know,” Evelyn whispered. She raised her head, looking into her father’s clear, dark eyes. “I knew it the second you walked out the door that night.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to see what was happening,” Julian said, a shadow of regret crossing his face. “I should have noticed the signs earlier. I should have—”
“Dad, stop,” Evelyn interrupted gently, touching his hand. “You saved my life. You and Mom both. You showed me that I don’t ever have to live in fear again.”
Eleanor leaned forward, taking both of their hands in hers. “We’re a family. That’s what we do. We protect each other.”
From down the driveway, the soft rumble of a car engine signaled the arrival of Detective Roosevelt Kent. He pulled his sedan up to the curb, stepping out in plain clothes with a thick leather portfolio tucked under his arm. He walked up the stone walkway, offering a polite nod to Eleanor and Evelyn before turning his attention to Julian.
