Just then, the landline on the end table rang. Joy Dalton glanced at the caller ID. Seeing it was the Sterling family's number, she immediately suppressed all her emotions. She cleared her throat, making sure her voice was sweet and gentle before answering, "Hello, this is Joy Dalton."
"Miss Joy Dalton, is anyone else home right now?" The cold, hard voice of the Sterling family's butler came through the receiver.
Joy Dalton froze for a moment. 'Why does his tone feel so off?'
"It's just my father and me at home right now," Joy Dalton answered truthfully. The Dalton family was small to begin with. Other than Mr. Dalton, who was paralyzed and bedridden year-round after a stroke, there was only her mother, Mrs. Dalton. And right now, Mrs. Dalton wasn't home; she had gone out for a walk.
The butler knew the Dalton family's situation, so he said coldly, "In that case, Miss Joy Dalton, please come to the Sterling residence. Mrs. Sterling has some questions for you."
