Nothing extravagant.
He had built it mostly for Lila.
His sister, Renee, had been raising her daughter alone after her husband died.
When Renee was called away for work, Lila stayed with Marcus.
The pool became their summer ritual.
Homework at four.
Dinner at six.
Swimming until sunset.
Lila loved the deep end.
She was thirteen and fearless in water.
That was why the glass mattered.
Marcus could tolerate harassment.
He could tolerate fines.
He could tolerate letters.
He could even tolerate Victoria's endless meetings.
But glass in a swimming pool was different.
A person could be seriously injured without seeing the danger.
That morning, after Victoria left, Marcus went downstairs.
He did not enter the backyard.
He stood behind the glass doors and looked.
Sunlight had just begun touching the roofline.
The pool looked beautiful.
Clear blue water.
Perfect surface.
Nothing visible from a distance.
Marcus knew better.
At 7:02, Dana arrived.
Dana Whitmore had represented Marcus in several business matters.
She was forty-nine, sharp, patient, and almost impossible to intimidate.
She entered through the front door carrying a leather folder.
“You recorded everything?”
“Yes.”
“Original files?”
“Automatically backed up.”
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“Don't confront Victoria.”
“I know.”
“Don't post anything.”
“I know.”
“Don't threaten anyone.”
Marcus gave her a look.
“I know.”
Dana smiled.
“I'm reminding you because you're angry.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
He frowned.
“Good?”
“Anger tells you something is wrong. It just shouldn't be the person driving the car.”
Marcus sat.
Dana opened the folder.
“Let's start at the beginning.”
Marcus explained the previous week.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Every fragment.
Every test.
Every conversation.
Dana wrote everything down.
“Did the pool company provide a report?”
“Yes.”