As Win’s questions went on, he calmed down—or maybe he just got himself under control. He said in his usual falsely charming voice, “Well, now, you’re right. We’ve never spoken much of my family. It’s odd to think of that. Strange that you don’t know about either of your sets of grandparents at all.”

Mr. Hawkins rubbed his chin as if thinking of old memories, but it struck Molly that instead, he was thinking whether to tell the truth or lie. Or maybe he didn’t hesitate over it at all. Maybe he was concocting the lie.

“I don’t have pictures of them, nor pictures of myself or your mother.” He fell silent for too long. At last he said, “I may have some of your mother’s parents. I haven’t had them out in a long time. I might be a while finding them, but come into my study. That’s where they’d have to be. We’ll have a look.”

“Oliver, I’d like to visit with my sister, catch up. I haven’t seen her in a while. I’ll be right in to look at pictures though.”

The way he said it, letting Mr. Hawkins know he wouldn’t be alone with Win for long, sounded almost like a threat, for sure a warning.

Mr. Hawkins left the room with Win, the two of them talking as if they’d always enjoyed each other’s company. As soon as they left, Molly frantically unbuttoned the top three buttons of her dress, pulled out the envelopes, and hissed, “Hide these. Check on them with Wyatt before you leave the property.”

Kevin arched a brow as Molly, quickly rebuttoning her dress, looked past his shoulder to make sure Mr. Hawkins hadn’t come back. Kevin had a coat hanging in the entryway. He strode to it, thrust her small collection of evidence deep in a pocket, then came back.

She hissed, “It might be something to use against . . .” Her eyes shifted to the door Mr. Hawkins had just walked out of. “If it’s not, then I have turned thief, and I want a chance to put those envelopes back in the safe in his bedroom.”

Then, on an impulse, she threw her arms around Kevin’s neck and said, speaking normally, “I’ve missed you.”

He hugged her gently. Then, setting her back so their eyes met, he asked, “Are you safe here?”

There was only silence. Molly couldn’t lie and claim she was safe. But neither could she say the words that would make Kevin yank her out of here. But her very silence was an answer.

“You’re leaving with Win and me.”