Chapter 2 - Eight-Twelve
Adrian locked the kitchen door and called the family doctor, security, and the police.
Victoria exploded first.
"Police? Adrian, have you lost your mind?"
"Something in my son's bottle damaged stone."
"You don't know that."
"That's why nobody touches it."
Elena stood beside Noah, shaking. The red mark on Lily's face seemed brighter every time Elena looked at it.
"Lily," she said quietly, "I'm sorry."
Lily nodded, but did not say it was okay.
That hurt more than Elena expected.
The mansion's head of security, Daniel Ruiz, arrived and checked the camera system. Camera 7 had been disabled manually at 8:12. The nursery hallway camera went dark three minutes later.
"Who logged in?" Adrian asked.
Daniel hesitated.
"The account says E.Bennett-Admin."
Elena blinked. "Mine?"
"Your credentials."
"I was upstairs feeding Noah at eight-twelve."
Victoria folded her arms. "Maybe you forgot. You haven't slept in months."
Elena looked at her.
The sentence sounded casual, but something about it landed wrong.
For weeks, Victoria had made comments about Elena's exhaustion.
You look confused.
You should let me handle the baby.
Maybe you need professional help.
Adrian heard it too.
"Daniel, when was Elena's password last changed?"
"Six months ago."
"Who knew it?"
Elena answered before Daniel could.
"Victoria. She set up the new security app for me after Noah was born."
Victoria's face tightened.
The doctor arrived and examined Noah. He was unharmed. The relief nearly dropped Elena to the floor.
Police collected the broken bottle and a sample of the spilled milk for testing.
Then an officer asked who had prepared it.
Elena answered, "I did."
Lily shook her head.
"No, ma'am."
Everyone turned.
"You made the bottle," Lily said, "but you left it on the warming tray when Noah started crying upstairs."
Elena remembered.
Three minutes.
Maybe four.
"Who was in the kitchen?" Adrian asked.
Lily looked at Victoria.
"She was."
Victoria snapped, "You're lying."
May you like
Lily reached into her apron pocket.
"Then why did you offer me five thousand dollars this morning to take the day off?"
