“Mommy,” she said.

“Daddy told me not to tell you what he and Uncle Jim did in our hotel room.”

Something in my stomach tightened and dropped.

I kept my face still — years of sitting across conference tables from people who were lying to me had taught me how to keep my face still — but inside, a cold alertness switched on, the one I knew from work, the one that meant pay attention, something here is wrong.

Before I could say a word, Lily hurried to explain herself, her little brow furrowed with the effort of doing the right thing.