Carrie,” Eleanor said firmly. “Your father is here.”

The girl’s tear-stained face crumpled. “Daddy, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. They were saying things about Mom and I just…”

I held up a hand, my voice miraculously steady despite the earthquake in my chest. “Miss Spencer, can I speak with you privately?”

Eleanor glanced at Carrie, then nodded. “Carrie, wait outside my office.”

The girl fled, and I heard her collapse onto a bench in the hallway, still crying.

“Miss Spencer,” I said carefully, my mind working like an architect calculating load-bearing walls. “I need you to explain what’s happening here. As I told you on the phone, I’ve been married for twelve years. I have no children. I have never met that girl before in my life.”