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Catherine remained unconvinced, but Leonard nodded. “See that you do. We’ll talk again once you’ve proven it.”

“I look forward to it.”

They remained in the sitting room while I headed toward the front entrance. Once I was out of sight, I turned into the service corridor and made my way to the basement.

The old wooden stairs creaked beneath my feet. I had learned everything I needed to know about the estate’s boiler years ago while reviewing maintenance costs for the family properties. Leonard had refused to replace it because he considered the expense unnecessary.

That decision was about to cost him considerably more.

I worked on the aging system for several minutes. By the time I finished, the boiler would begin releasing carbon monoxide into the house before morning, and the alarm would remain silent. The equipment was old enough that its failure would appear accidental.

My parents would go upstairs, close their bedroom door, and fall asleep.

And never wake up.

I wiped down everything I had touched and returned to the service corridor. My parents were still arguing in the sitting room when I slipped through the side door.

I walked around the house to where I had parked the Jaguar. Before getting inside, I glanced at the first-floor windows. Catherine passed through the foyer carrying her empty glass. Leonard followed a few seconds later.

I started the car and drove away.

They had spent years protecting me from the consequences of killing Caroline. Tonight, they had reminded me that they could expose me whenever they wanted.

I couldn’t allow that.

By the time I returned to the penthouse, my anger had settled. I showered, poured myself a drink, and went about my night as if dinner had been nothing more than an inconvenience. Somewhere beyond the city, the Kincaid estate was growing quiet. I felt no urge to picture what was happening inside. I already knew how it would end.

Several hours later, the phone rang while I was reviewing quarterly reports in my office. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway.

“Richard Kincaid?”

“Yes.”

“This is Officer Alden. Are you somewhere private?”

I leaned back in my chair. “I’m alone. What happened?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Kincaid. Your parents were found deceased in their home this morning.”

I almost laughed. I covered my mouth before the sound could escape. The officer mistook my silence for shock.

“Mr. Kincaid?”

I bit the inside of my cheek and forced myself to focus. “Both of them?”

“Yes, sir. Their housekeeper discovered them and called emergency services. The initial findings point to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a problem with the boiler.”

I pressed my lips together as another laugh rose in my throat. They had died in their sleep only hours after ordering me to control myself. Leonard had probably gone to bed convinced that his lecture had finally worked. Imagining him falling asleep with that smug satisfaction made it almost impossible to keep from laughing.

I lowered my head and forced my breathing to change. “I was just there. They were fine when I left.”

“I understand. The investigation is still ongoing, but right now, this appears to have been a tragic accident.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“We’ll need you to come in and answer a few questions about when you last saw them. You don’t have to come immediately. Is there someone who can drive you?”

“I’ll have my driver take me.”