Joseph didn''t allow a single thing in the house that had anything to do with Julie.


    That one photograph set him off.


    "Where did you get this?" Joseph''s voice was sharp, almost a shout. "I told you, you don''t have a mother."


    He snatched the photo and ripped it in half. Daria''s sobs grew louder, full-on wailing now. "I do have a mom! She''s fighting monsters! When she beats them, she''lle back!"


    "Who told you that?" Joseph snapped. "n, listen to me-again-you don''t have a mother. Get that into your head."


    Joseph only ever used Daria''s full name when he was furious.


    "You''re lying! I have a mom! Everyone does!" Daria''s face was streaked red from crying, stubborn as ever-he was the only one who dared talk back to Joseph.


    Their nanny, Caterina, heard themotion and rushed upstairs, thinking something terrible had happened.


    She peeked in, saw Joseph scolding Daria, and immediately turned to leave.


    "Caterina!" Joseph''s angry call stopped her in her tracks. "Where did this photoe from?"


    Caterina nced at the torn pieces on the floor and instantly knew who was behind it. But she couldn''t say.


    She forced herself to lie. "I don''t know, sir. Maybe Daria found it somewhere? He''s just a kid-please, don''t be so hard on him."


    But Daria kept crying, ignoring Joseph''s questions about the picture. The poor kid looked terrified-he''d never seen his dad like this before.


    He ran to Caterina, clinging to her and sobbing. "Caterina, Daddy''s mean! He yelled at me and tore up Mommy''s picture!"


    "Daria, don''t say that. Your dad loves you," Caterina whispered, lifting him in her arms and rocking him gently. She shot a nervous nce at Joseph, trying to gauge his mood.


    Joseph''s face was grim, Daria''s crying making him even more irritable, but he kept a lid on his temper. "Take Daria downstairs."


    Caterina was relieved. She was scared Joseph would dig deeper-she''d taken money from Autumn, and if he ever found out, she''d be out on the street.


    Her job was easy: just look after Daria. The others cooked and cleaned; Caterina just yed with the kid.


    Four grand a month, right here in Riverdale-a rare find.


    Her son and daughter-inw were both jobless. Her paycheck kept the whole family going.


    She took Daria to the backyard, holding him close. "Come on, don''t cry, sweetie. Don''t be mad at your dad. Tell you what, I''ll buy you a new toyter-maybe a cool gun or something, how''s that?"


    "Daddy''s mean. I don''t want Daddy. I want Mommy," Daria blubbered, tears wetting Caterina''s shoulder.


    Caterina''s heart ached for him. She''d


    looked after Daria for so long, but there was never any talk of his mom. Joseph had made it clear-no one was allowed to mention her, not


    even a whisper.


    It took ages to calm Daria down.


    Upstairs, Joseph stood ring at the shredded photo, storm clouds in his eyes.


    He knew none of the staff would''ve dared give Daria something like that. It had to be someone from outside.


    Katelyn never liked Daria, but she''d never do something like this. Feiman wouldn''t either.


    And the Salstroms? No one in that family wanted to bring up Julie.


    Eventually, Daria cried himself to sleep.


    Caterina carried him back to his room. As soon as she stepped out, Joseph called her again.


    "Caterina,e here."


    Her nerves were shot, but she had no choice but to follow him downstairs.


    Joseph was sitting on the sofa, cigarette in hand, face unreadable.


    "I''ll give you one minute. Think carefully. Who''s Daria seentely? Who gave him that photo?"


    Joseph wasn''t stupid. Caterina was with Daria all day—she''d know.


    Caterina''s hands shook with nerves. She was scared to tell the truth, but with Joseph, lying was even riskier.


    After a long pause, she said, "When I took Daria to the park, we ran into Mrs. Walker. She really likes Daria bought him a bunch of things. Daria likes her, too. She was friends with


    your wife, so I didn''t think it was a big deal."


    s?novel


    Half-truth, half-lie—she wasn''t about to admit she''d arranged for Daria to meet Autumn.


    At the mention of Autumn, Joseph''s face tightened.


    So it was Autumn, no doubt about it.


    But why was she giving Daria pictures of Julie? What was she after?