He had never understood his daughter as a person, only as a problem, and the problem had a elegant solution he was rather proud of.

Other men in his position — men who stole from the companies they ran — lived in constant fear of the one witness who might notice: a spouse, an auditor, a child who asked the wrong question.

Alaric had solved that fear permanently.

He had a witness, yes; his daughter had seen too much, years ago, and had been foolish enough to say so.

But he had discovered that a witness could be neutralized far more cleanly than by any of the crude methods lesser men resorted to.

You did not have to silence her.