“The Housemaid Smashed the Mansion Wall — What She Found Inside Was Horrifying!”

Detective Collins brought Pike into an interview room before dawn.

Arthur refused to leave.

"What document?"

Pike leaned back in the metal chair. "You really should let your attorney handle this."

"My attorney locked my son in a wall."

"Allegedly."

Arthur stood.

Collins put a hand on his shoulder. "Sit down."

Pike smiled. "There it is. The temper."

Arthur stopped.

Pike had wanted that reaction.

"You recorded Leo saying I hit him," Arthur said. "You planned to use my anger to support it."

The smile disappeared.

Collins leaned forward. "What document does Victoria have?"

Pike said nothing.

Back at the mansion, Elena found the answer by accident.

She was gathering Leo's clothes when she noticed an empty frame on Victoria's desk. The frame had once held a family photograph. Behind the cardboard backing was a folded photocopy.

PETITION FOR EMERGENCY GUARDIANSHIP.

It claimed Arthur was violent, unstable, and financially reckless.

Attached were statements supposedly made by household employees.

Elena's name appeared on one.

She had never written it.

"I, Elena Ruiz, have personally witnessed Arthur Bennett strike his son on multiple occasions."

Her hands began shaking.

She called Collins immediately.

By sunrise, the detective had the document in an evidence bag.

"This is why they made Leo record the runaway statement," Arthur said. "They wanted a complete story."

Collins nodded. "If Victoria took Leo, accused you of abuse, and filed for emergency guardianship, she'd control him and the trust during the investigation."

"And if he later disappeared?"

Collins didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

Leo sat on the couch holding his dinosaur.

"Dad?"

Arthur went to him.

"Yeah?"

"Did I make bad things happen because I told them no?"

Arthur's chest tightened.

"No. You did the bravest thing possible."

"I kicked Mr. Blake."

Elena smiled faintly. "Good choice."