Chapter 4 - Nobody Saw a Thing
By morning, a video of the ballroom had sixteen million views.
People online called Leah a hero.
She felt like a woman who had been twenty steps too late.
Noah sat on her couch with a clean sweatshirt and a stuffed fox named Pilot.
Every time a car door slammed outside, his shoulders jumped.
"We aren't going anywhere today," Leah said.
"Do I have to talk to the camera people?"
"No. And you never have to tell anyone your story just because they ask."
The doorbell rang.
A man with perfect hair stood on her porch holding a gift basket.
"Colin Rusk," he said.
"I manage public relations for the Ashcroft Foundation. We deeply regret last night's confusion."
"Confusion?"
"Mrs. Ashcroft has been under extraordinary strain. Perhaps your nephew became upset and the situation escalated."
Leah put herself between him and the open door.
"She pointed a gun at a child."
"The context is disputed."
He held out a folder.
"A private education fund. Medical expenses. Support for both of you, provided we agree to keep personal matters private."
"You mean a gag order."
His smile thinned.
"I'd call it an opportunity to recover."
Leah took one picture of the folder with her phone.
"Leave."
"Ms. Moreno, the foundation's legal team has concerns about the stability of your guardianship arrangement."
Her stomach dropped.
"You don't get to threaten me in my own doorway."
She shut the door and called Price.
"Keep the folder," the detective said.
"Don't negotiate. I'll send someone to document it."
Later, Price forwarded a single still from Jade Mercer's video: Noah on the floor, Vivian leaning toward him.
Leah zoomed in.
Vivian wore a bracelet of tiny silver swallows, their wings linked together.
It was the same bracelet Noah had described from the night Rachel died.
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Then an email landed in Leah's inbox from an unknown address.
SUBJECT: I HELPED PUT THE CHAIN ON THAT DOOR.
