Chapter 2 - Nobody Leaves the Room
“Nobody leaves.”
Richard’s voice was quiet enough to make Vanessa flinch.
He crossed the foyer, took Leo carefully from Anna, and checked his head, arms, and legs while the boy clung to his shirt. Richard had always been gentle with his son. Tonight, there was something else beneath that gentleness—fear sharpened into anger.
“Does anything hurt, buddy?”
Leo sniffed and touched the back of his head.
Anna’s stomach dropped.
“We’re going to the hospital.”
“Of course,” Vanessa said quickly. “And once he’s checked, maybe everyone can calm down.”
Richard looked at her. “I said nobody leaves.”
Vanessa folded her arms. “Are you seriously treating me like a criminal because a toddler tripped?”
“Did he trip?”
“I just told you—”
“I’m not asking what you told me. I’m asking what happened.”
Vanessa’s face flushed.
Anna crouched to pull on her shoes. Her palms were cut from the broken glass, but she barely felt it.
Richard called Nolan Price, the security manager who monitored the cameras around the Mercer estate.
“Pull the staircase feed from the last thirty minutes,” Richard said. “Save it in three places. Don’t edit it. Don’t send it to anyone except me.”
There was a pause on the other end.
Then Nolan said, “Sir… I’m not at the house.”
Richard frowned. “I know. Remote access it.”
Another pause.
“I’m trying.”
Vanessa’s gaze dropped to the floor.
Anna noticed.
“Nolan?” Richard said.
“The system says the staircase camera went offline at 7:14.”
Anna looked at the digital clock on the wall.
7:31.
Richard’s jaw tightened. “It’s on right now.”
“Yes, sir. It came back online at 7:22.”
Anna felt cold spread through her chest.
Eight missing minutes.
The fall had happened at approximately 7:18.
Vanessa exhaled.
Too slowly.
Too carefully.
Richard saw it too.
“Why are you relieved?” he asked.
“I’m not.”
“You just looked relieved.”
“This is insane.”
Leo began fussing, and Anna reached for him. As she did, he whispered something against Richard’s collar.
“Red light.”
Richard looked down. “What red light?”
Leo pointed upstairs again.
“Vessa red light.”
Vanessa went completely still.
Anna had lived in that house for six years.
She knew every camera had a green status light.
So what red light had Leo seen?
Richard handed Leo to Anna and started up the stairs.
Vanessa moved to block him.
“Richard, don’t.”
He stopped.
That single word changed the room.
May you like
Richard looked at his sister.
“What exactly,” he asked, “don’t you want me to find?”
