Caroline walked beside her children, keeping her posture upright as several couples glanced their way.

Grant paused near a tall copper beech tree and turned as Caroline reached the edge of the promenade.

“Step into the library hallway with me right now, Caroline,” Grant said under his breath, his voice hard.

“We’re fine right here in the garden, Grant,” Caroline replied without raising her voice.

He reached for her elbow, but three men in tailored gray suits stepped off the stone path toward them.

“Caroline Holloway!” called Arthur Vance, the senior director of the Newport Harbor Trust.