“I was scared to death of losing the house to the creditors, but taking my money panic out on my own mother was unforgivable.”

“Where’s Chloe?” I asked.

“She’s upstairs in her room,” Julian said.

“You can go up and see her for five minutes as long as you keep the room dark.”

I studied him for a long moment, searching his face for any hint of a trick.

His eyes were clear, and his voice had lost the sharp, defensive edge it had carried for weeks.

“Five minutes, then,” I said.