Chapter 2 - The Boy's Accusation
The terrace became a maze of security guards, overturned chairs, and guests wrapped in shock. Julian carried Noah away from the broken glass while a medic bandaged Elena's arm. She kept looking toward the doors through which Adrian had vanished.
"My brother is helping the guests," Julian said when he caught her staring. His voice sounded controlled, but his hands shook as he checked Noah's hair and face. "He wouldn't put my son in danger."
"I didn't say he did," Elena replied. "Noah did."
Julian's jaw tightened. "He's five. He was frightened."
"He was also looking directly at the pedestal."
Security director Grant Ellis asked Elena for a statement and told her not to discuss the incident. His eyes lingered on the blood on her sleeve.
Noah refused to let go of his father's hand. When Julian asked what he had seen, the boy repeated himself in a small, steady voice.
"Uncle Adrian put his shoe on the silver pedal. Then he pushed."
Grant glanced at Julian. "Children can mix up what they saw during a scare. We need footage before we draw conclusions."
"Then get the footage," Julian said.
The photographer, catering manager, and security system had all recorded the terrace. There should have been enough evidence to reconstruct the moment.
An hour later, Grant returned with a tablet and a grim expression.
"The terrace feed is missing for ninety-two seconds," he said. "The other cameras show the crowd running, but not the pedestal itself."
Julian stared at him. "Cameras don't just go missing."
"Someone used an administrative override. We're checking who had access."
From the sofa, Noah suddenly sat up. He had been quiet since the collapse, rubbing the wooden car's chipped roof with his thumb.
"Daddy," he said. "Uncle Adrian told me not to tell you."
Julian turned. "When?"
"Before the glasses fell. He said it was a secret game."
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A silence settled over the room. For the first time, Julian looked less certain than frightened.
Then Grant's tablet chimed. The system had logged the camera override under Julian's own security authorization.
