Chapter 15 - Behind the Dressing Room Door
Daniel watched the footage in a small police interview room. The video had no sound. It showed a hotel service hallway, Lucía walking with her flower basket, then Tucker Beck appearing from a side door. He bent toward her, blocking the way for nine seconds.
Lucía backed into the wall. Tucker placed something inside the basket and walked away. She stood perfectly still until Rosa came looking for her.
Daniel gripped the table. "She never told me he stopped her."
Officer Malloy nodded. "Children don't always report every frightening moment at once. We're arranging an interview with someone trained to ask without leading her."
"I want her nowhere near those people."
"That's a reasonable priority. We'll document contact attempts and discuss protective measures with the prosecutor."
Tucker's phone was seized under a warrant in the financial investigation. A preliminary review linked it to the threatening photograph outside the grocery store. Malloy wouldn't promise immediate charges for everything. She didn't need to. Daniel could hear how seriously she was taking it.
At home Lucía had built a crooked tower out of wooden blocks. Daniel sat on the rug and let her add the last piece before mentioning the video.
"The man from the doors talked to you, didn't he?"
Lucía nodded without looking up. "He said people who tell stories don't get to be flower girls anymore."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. I was afraid he'd take my shoes away."
Daniel had never hated a sentence so much. He pulled her close and felt her hand settle over his heart as if checking whether it was still beating.
May you like
A block fell from the tower. Lucía laughed, startled by the noise. Daniel laughed too, and for a moment the room belonged to them again.
Then Cal called from the shop after closing. "Daniel," he whispered, "the office alarm just went off. Somebody's inside. I can see a flashlight moving behind your desk."
