Adrian had not seen his younger brother, Daniel, in nearly a year.

Their relationship had collapsed slowly.

First over money.

Then over Daniel’s gambling.

Then over Eleanor’s refusal to keep paying his debts.

The last time they spoke, Daniel called Adrian “the perfect son who got everything.”

Adrian had told him to grow up.

Daniel told him to go to hell.

Now Luis was saying he had been inside the mansion the night their mother died.

“Are you sure?” Adrian asked.

Luis looked offended.

“I watched that boy grow up.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“I tried to call police. Then Mr. Rourke came to my house.”

“Evan?”

Luis nodded.

“He showed me a photo of my daughter outside her school.”

Mara covered her mouth.

“He told me I misunderstood what I saw.”

“What did you see?” Noah asked.

Luis looked at Adrian.

“Your brother came through the service gate around nine-thirty. Miss Hart let him in.”

“Then what?”

“They went upstairs.”

“To my mother’s room?”

“I don’t know. Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Rourke arrived.”

Adrian’s pulse hammered.

“Did you see Daniel leave?”

“Yes. He was crying.”

“When?”

“A little after ten.”

“Was he alone?”

“Yes.”

“Did he see you?”

“I don’t think so.”

Noah leaned forward.

“What did you do next?”

“I went inside.”

Adrian stared.

“You went into the house?”

“I heard something break upstairs.”

Luis’s voice trembled.

“I found Mrs. Cole on the floor.”

Adrian’s breath caught.

“She was still alive?”

Luis nodded.

“She tried to speak.”

“What did she say?”

Luis’s eyes filled.

“Not Vanessa.”

Adrian went still.

“What?”

“She kept saying, ‘Not Vanessa. Danny.’”

Mara whispered, “Daniel did it?”

Luis shook his head quickly.

“No. I don’t know. Mrs. Cole was confused. She could barely speak.”

Noah asked, “Did you call 911?”

“Yes. From the hallway phone.”

Adrian knew the official record said Vanessa called 911.

Another lie.

Luis continued.

“Then Miss Hart came running in. She told me to leave. Said she would handle it.”

“You left my mother on the floor with Vanessa?”

Luis’s face collapsed.

“I was scared.”

Adrian stood.

Mara grabbed his arm.

“Adrian.”

He pulled away, anger roaring up so fast he could barely see.

Luis lowered his head.

“I have hated myself every day.”

Adrian walked to the other side of the room and pressed both hands against the wall.

Noah gave him a moment.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

Listened.

His expression changed.

“What?” Adrian demanded.

Noah looked at him.

“Daniel Cole was just picked up at JFK.”

“Coming into the country?”

“No.”

Noah paused.

“Trying to leave.”