He wanted to say yes.
He wanted to be the father who knew.
Instead, he answered honestly.
"I need to find out."
He ended the call.
Then called his office assistant.
Within an hour, he had arranged for a senior colleague to take over the remaining Chicago meetings.
He booked the earliest practical flight home.
His seven-day trip was ending after two nights.
But Daniel had no idea how urgent his return truly was.
The flight back to Connecticut felt longer than the flight out.
Daniel tried calling Vanessa three more times.
She finally answered shortly before he boarded.
"Daniel, darling. I'm busy."
He looked toward the terminal window.
"Where's Amelia?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"At school."
He glanced at the time.
It was still during school hours.
"Did Denise come by yesterday?"
A pause.
"She did."
"Why wouldn't you let her see Amelia?"
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
"She arrived without calling."
"She's Amelia's grandmother."
"And I'm responsible for the household when you're away."
Daniel went still.
He had heard that tone before.
Not usually directed at him.
But he recognized it now.
He took a breath.
"I want to speak to Amelia tonight."
Vanessa laughed lightly.
"Of course."
"No excuses."
Silence.
Then she said, "Daniel, what is this about?"
He considered telling her about the trust.
But he did not yet know enough.
And something about her defensiveness made him cautious.
"I'll explain when I get home."
Vanessa went silent.
"Home?"
He closed his eyes.
"After the trip."
He had deliberately avoided saying when.
She exhaled.
"All right."
They ended the call.
Daniel stood at the boarding gate staring at his phone.
He disliked concealing information from his wife.
But he needed to see his daughter.
He needed to understand the financial records.
And, for the first time, he no longer trusted Vanessa to tell him what was happening in his own house.
During the journey home, Daniel opened the pet-monitoring app.
He had not checked it in several days.
At first, he saw an ordinary view of the feeding station.
Biscuit's water bowl.