Chapter 8
The Suitcase By The Nursery
Rosalie stood in the nursery doorway, blocking the path of a uniformed driver. Beside him sat a pink suitcase with Livia's name spelled in gold letters.
“Mr. Varano said to prepare her for departure,” the driver explained.
“Mr. Varano doesn't get to decide where she goes.”
The driver looked uneasy. “I was told it was a surprise honeymoon gift.”
“For a three-year-old?”
He backed off. Rosalie photographed the luggage tag and sent it to Grace. A private-school brochure had been tucked into the front pocket. Its boarding program accepted children starting at age six. Someone had crossed that out and written special intake approved.
Livia sat inside her blanket fort. “Am I in trouble?”
“No,” Rosalie said. “You are home.”
“Bianca said Daddy needs a new family. She said my hair makes him sad.”
Rosalie pressed her lips together. “That's not true. Your daddy misses your mother. And he loves you.”
Police arrived to take statements. Detective Ana Ortiz listened without rushing while Livia played with a wooden horse. She asked Rosalie to explain what she'd seen in the dressing suite, then arranged a child-sensitive interview with a specialist rather than questioning Livia again that afternoon.
In the hallway Gabriel handed Ortiz the camera-access log. He hadn't authorized the shutdown, he said. Someone had used a copied access code.
Ortiz scanned the log. “This code was used again fifteen minutes ago.”
“Where?” Gabriel asked.
“At the nursery's outer door.”
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A soft chime sounded from the lock behind them. The indicator had turned green.
