Chapter 2 - The Missing Four Minutes
Richard carried Maya to the nursery himself.
Victoria followed.
“I really think we should leave her with Mrs. Gable,” Victoria said. “The gala has already started.”
Richard did not answer.
The nursery looked perfect. White shelves. Stuffed animals arranged by color. A small canopy bed beside the tall windows. No overturned furniture. No broken toys. Nothing that explained why his daughter had looked as though she were escaping a fire.
Mrs. Gable, the night nanny, was not there.
“Where is she?” Richard asked.
Victoria blinked. “She called out sick.”
“She was here this afternoon.”
“She developed a migraine.”
Richard placed Maya on the bed. She refused to release his sleeve.
“Daddy stay.”
“I’m staying.”
Victoria’s smile tightened.
Richard walked to the security panel near the door and opened the nursery feed on his phone. The estate had cameras in every hallway and common room. He had installed them after Eleanor died because he was terrified of something happening to Maya while he was away.
He scrolled backward.
6:41 p.m. Victoria entered the nursery with Maya.
6:42 p.m. The feed froze.
6:46 p.m. It resumed with Maya running into the hall.
Richard stared at the screen.
Four minutes were gone.
“That happens sometimes,” Victoria said quickly. “The Wi-Fi drops.”
Richard looked at her. “Only one camera?”
“The system is complicated. I wouldn’t know.”
He opened the hallway feed.
No gap.
The kitchen feed.
No gap.
The ballroom feed.
No gap.
Only the nursery camera had gone dark.
Richard’s mouth went dry.
Victoria folded her arms. “Are you seriously looking at me like that?”
“I’m looking at a camera that stopped recording while my daughter was alone with you.”
“Your daughter was not alone with me. She was safe with me.”
Maya made a small sound from the bed.
Richard turned.
She was staring at Victoria’s purse.
More specifically, she was staring at the small black object hanging from the side pocket.
Richard stepped closer.
May you like
It was a remote.
The same brand as the estate’s security system.
