Natalie woke before sunrise because every movement reminded her where the bronze horse had struck.
A doctor had examined her the night before and found no serious injury, only a deep bruise that would take time to fade.
Daniel had offered to send her home with full pay.
Natalie had refused.
She did not refuse because she wanted to prove something.
She refused because Lucas had fallen asleep sitting outside her bedroom door.
When she opened it at six in the morning, he was curled against the wall with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
A security guard stood ten feet away pretending not to watch him.
Natalie crouched carefully.
“Lucas.”
His eyes opened at once.
He looked toward her suitcase before he looked at her face.
Natalie followed his gaze.
“I’m not packing.”
Lucas studied her as if he expected a trick.
“People pack when I sleep.”
The words were matter-of-fact.
That made them worse.
Natalie sat on the carpet beside him.
“How many people?”
Lucas looked down.
“Seven.”
Natalie felt a chill move through her.
Seven caregivers in less than two years.
At breakfast, she asked Evelyn for the employment files.
Evelyn did not even look up from the silver coffee service.
“That is not part of your job.”
“I’m responsible for Lucas during the day.”
“You are responsible for meals, clothing, play schedules, and keeping him out of restricted rooms.”
Natalie noticed the last phrase.
“Restricted rooms?”
Evelyn set down the coffeepot.
“This is a very large house.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
Evelyn finally looked at her.
The older woman’s expression was not angry.
It was warning her.
“There are doors in this house you do not open.”
Natalie glanced toward the hallway.
Lucas was sitting on the floor near the staircase, lining up toy cars in perfect rows.
Every few seconds, he checked whether Natalie was still in the room.
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“The previous staff members believed they could fix him.”
Natalie’s jaw tightened.
“He isn’t broken.”
“Then perhaps you will enjoy discovering why they left.”
Daniel entered before Natalie could answer.
The room changed around him.
A security man straightened near the door.
Evelyn stepped back.
Even Lucas became still.
Daniel noticed it.
Natalie noticed that he noticed it.
He poured coffee but did not drink it.
“Lucas has a tutor at nine.”
Lucas pushed one toy car harder than necessary.
It struck the baseboard.
Daniel’s eyes moved toward him.
“Lucas.”
The boy’s shoulders rose.
Natalie waited.
Daniel seemed to search for something else to say.
Nothing came.
He turned to Natalie instead.
“I want to speak with you privately.”
They entered Daniel’s study.
The room smelled of leather, cedar, and expensive restraint.
Daniel closed the door.
“I should have warned you.”
Natalie folded her hands in front of her.
“About the statue?”
“About him.”
She did not like the way he said it.
“Lucas is five.”
“He has episodes.”
“He has panic.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“You’ve known him three days.”
“And I knew last night he was more afraid of me leaving than of being punished.”
Daniel looked away.
Natalie saw a family photograph turned face down on a shelf.
She did not touch it.
“Why have seven caregivers left?”
Daniel’s silence answered before he did.
“Some were frightened.”
“Of a five-year-old?”
“Of what happens around him.”
Natalie stared at him.
Daniel exhaled slowly.
“My life is complicated.”
“That sounds like an adult problem.”
His eyes sharpened.
Most people in the city probably regretted speaking to Daniel Brooks that way.
Natalie did not.
“Lucas thinks people leave because of him.”
Daniel’s expression changed just enough for her to see the truth.
He already knew.
Before Natalie could press him, a small knock came from the door.
Lucas stood outside holding a folded piece of paper.
He walked directly to Natalie and handed it to her.
It was a child’s drawing.
A tall woman in gray stood beside a small boy.
A man in a blue suit stood several feet away.
At the far edge of the page was another woman drawn in yellow crayon.
Her face had been scratched out until the paper tore.
Natalie pointed gently.
“Who is that?”
Daniel went completely still.
Lucas looked at his father.
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“The previous staff members believed they could fix him.”
Natalie’s jaw tightened.
“He isn’t broken.”
“Then perhaps you will enjoy discovering why they left.”
Daniel entered before Natalie could answer.
The room changed around him.
A security man straightened near the door.
Evelyn stepped back.
Even Lucas became still.
Daniel noticed it.
Natalie noticed that he noticed it.
He poured coffee but did not drink it.
“Lucas has a tutor at nine.”
Lucas pushed one toy car harder than necessary.
It struck the baseboard.
Daniel’s eyes moved toward him.
“Lucas.”
The boy’s shoulders rose.
Natalie waited.
Daniel seemed to search for something else to say.
Nothing came.
He turned to Natalie instead.
“I want to speak with you privately.”
They entered Daniel’s study.
The room smelled of leather, cedar, and expensive restraint.
Daniel closed the door.
“I should have warned you.”
Natalie folded her hands in front of her.
“About the statue?”
“About him.”
She did not like the way he said it.
“Lucas is five.”
“He has episodes.”
“He has panic.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“You’ve known him three days.”
“And I knew last night he was more afraid of me leaving than of being punished.”
Daniel looked away.
Natalie saw a family photograph turned face down on a shelf.
She did not touch it.
“Why have seven caregivers left?”
Daniel’s silence answered before he did.
“Some were frightened.”
“Of a five-year-old?”
“Of what happens around him.”
Natalie stared at him.
Daniel exhaled slowly.
“My life is complicated.”
“That sounds like an adult problem.”
His eyes sharpened.
Most people in the city probably regretted speaking to Daniel Brooks that way.
Natalie did not.
“Lucas thinks people leave because of him.”
Daniel’s expression changed just enough for her to see the truth.
He already knew.
Before Natalie could press him, a small knock came from the door.
Lucas stood outside holding a folded piece of paper.
He walked directly to Natalie and handed it to her.
It was a child’s drawing.
A tall woman in gray stood beside a small boy.
A man in a blue suit stood several feet away.
At the far edge of the page was another woman drawn in yellow crayon.
Her face had been scratched out until the paper tore.
Natalie pointed gently.
“Who is that?”
Daniel went completely still.
Lucas looked at his father.
Then he whispered something Natalie was not supposed to hear.
“The person Dad says I’m not allowed to ask about.”
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