Chapter 3 - ELEVEN MISSING MINUTES
Clara showed Detective Vega her medications: an ordinary allergy tablet and a prescribed sleep aid she had stopped taking months before. Vega wrote everything down, including the fact that Clara had called emergency services immediately.
“An allegation isn't proof,” Vega told her. “Don't let anybody convince you otherwise.”
Elena squeezed Clara's shoulder. For the first time since the ambulance arrived, Clara could breathe.
By evening Rosie was stable, hungry, and asking for her stuffed rabbit. Clara sent Elena back to the mansion with explicit permission to retrieve it and the spare clothes. An hour later Elena called from the laundry room.
“There's something wrong with the camera system.”
“What kind of wrong?”
“The recordings jump from 2:11 to 2:22. That's the exact window when Rosie went outside.”
Clara remembered the camera light changing colors. “Could there be a backup?”
“Maybe. There's a locked equipment cabinet behind the pool house. Someone put fresh scratches around it.”
Before Clara could answer, a man's voice sounded behind Elena.
“Who gave you permission to touch the security equipment?”
It was Miles Hargrove, Beatrice's attorney and the Mercer trust's acting administrator. He had supervised the estate since Clara's father died. Clara had always found him polite. Tonight his politeness sounded like a threat.
“I'm collecting a child's clothes,” Elena said.
“Then collect them. And understand that unauthorized access will be reported.”
Clara heard fabric rustle. Elena had put the phone in her pocket but left the call connected.
Miles spoke again, quieter this time. “Did you check the basement feed?”
A second voice replied, “The main system is clean. The old line is supposed to be dead.”
Clara pressed the phone against her ear.
“Supposed to be?” she whispered.
May you like
Then the call cut off, and a text arrived from Elena: I'M NOT ALONE IN THE HOUSE.
