Chapter 5 - THE LOCKED DRAWER
Police traced the SUV, but Ethan disappeared before they could stop him.
Julian stood under the theater awning with rain dripping from his hair.
"Why would Ethan take Elsie's backpack?"
Cesare looked at him. "You know why. You're just hoping I'm wrong."
Vanessa pressed both palms to her temples. "Ethan panicked. That's all. He probably thought the backpack belonged to me."
Elsie spoke from Rosa's arms.
"My name is on it."
Vanessa turned away.
The fire department cleared the west side of the building forty minutes later. Julian's office was untouched.
Cesare entered with a police officer and Marta. On the desk were framed photos of Julian at corporate events. Not one showed Elsie. Cesare's expression hardened.
The lower right drawer of Julian's desk was locked.
Julian arrived behind them. "That's personal."
Cesare held out his hand. "Key."
"Dad."
"Key."
Julian gave it to him.
Inside were custody papers, Elsie's birth certificate, and an unsigned letter addressed to St. Catherine's Residential Academy in Vermont.
Cesare read the first line.
Dear Admissions Committee, I am requesting immediate placement for my daughter, Elsie Bellini...
He stopped.
"You were sending her away?"
Julian rubbed his face. "Vanessa thought boarding school would give us time to settle after the wedding."
Cesare slammed the letter onto the desk.
"She is seven."
"It wasn't decided."
"You filled out the forms."
Elsie stood in the doorway.
Nobody had heard her come in.
She looked at the paper.
Then at her father.
"You said Vermont was a summer camp."
Julian's face collapsed.
"Sweetheart--"
She stepped backward.
"Don't call me that."
The officer quietly turned away.
Marta reached deeper into the drawer and pulled out a small brass key taped beneath the top panel.
A paper label was wrapped around it.
BPH - ARCHIVE 17.
Julian stared at the key.
"I've never seen that before."
Cesare looked at him.
May you like
This time, he believed him.
Which meant somebody had planted it there.
