Victoria gasped softly when Mark stared at her across the hall.
She took a quick step back toward the front entrance doors.
"Mark, please listen to me before you panic," Victoria said nervously.
Mark walked forward, his boots clicking loudly against the polished marble.
"Why was our daughter crawling on the floor with a broken leg?"
"She thought someone was trying to hurt us," Victoria whispered softly.
Mark stopped five feet away from his wife, his eyes narrow.
"Why would she think that, Victoria? What did you tell her?"
Victoria squeezed the leather folder tightly against her dark red dress.
"Some strange men came to the front gate an hour ago."
"They were asking about the mortgage and the family estate funds."
Mark felt a heavy lump form rapidly inside his throat.
He was a successful corporate executive who managed several large accounts.
He had spent years building a safe life for his growing family.
"Who came to our home?" Mark asked in a stern voice.
"They said they were representatives from a private lender," Victoria replied.
"They claimed our home loan was three months past due."
Mark shook his head in absolute disbelief at her sudden statement.
"That is impossible because I pay that bill every single month."
"I set up auto-pay through our joint bank account last year."
Emily crawled closer to her father's polished leather shoes.
"Daddy, the man on the porch was yelling very loudly!"
Mark looked down at his brave little girl with intense pride.
"Did he try to enter the house, Emily? Tell me."
"Mommy locked the front door and told me to take Leo upstairs."
"I slipped on the carpet because my cast was too slick."
Mark felt a wave of anger wash entirely over his body.
He looked directly into Victoria's anxious brown eyes for the truth.
"What is in that folder you are holding right now?"
Victoria held the red folder closer to her racing heart.
"It is nothing you need to worry about right now, Mark."
"Show me the papers immediately, Victoria," Mark demanded sharply.