Chapter 5 - The Silver Box in My Locker|
I had never seen the silver container before.
It was small enough to fit inside a man's palm, with a polished lid and a tiny engraved star.
Yet somehow, it had appeared inside my personal locker.
Mrs. Hargrove stood beside Dominic's desk, her face pale beneath her carefully applied makeup.
“I was checking the staff storage area when I discovered it,” she explained.
Gabriel pulled on gloves.
“Don't touch anything else.”
He photographed the container before opening it.
Inside was a trace of pale powder.
My knees weakened.
“Someone put that there.”
Nobody answered.
I looked directly at Mrs. Hargrove.
“You know I didn't bring that into this house.”
Her mouth tightened.
“I only report what I find.”
Lily began crying against my shoulder.
“No, Mommy! No!”
I kissed her forehead.
“It's okay, sweetheart.”
But it wasn't okay.
Not even close.
Gabriel stepped toward the door.
“Until we establish what this is, Mrs. Ellis should remain in a secure room.”
My heart raced.
“You're arresting me?”
“I'm protecting the investigation.”
“That's what people say when they've already decided someone is guilty.”
Dominic raised one hand.
“Enough.”
Gabriel stopped.
Dominic approached the desk and examined the silver container without touching it.
Then he looked at Lily.
“Sweetheart, did the man's box look exactly like this one?”
Lily sniffled.
“Yes.”
“Did you see him put it in your mommy's locker?”
“No.”
Dominic crouched.
“Then why are you upset?”
Her little face crumpled.
“Because it's the bad man's.”
“How do you know?”
Lily reached toward the lid.
Gabriel quickly moved it away.
“Careful.”
She pointed at the engraved star.
“He showed it to the green lady.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“What did he say?”
Lily struggled to remember.
Then whispered:
“He said, 'It's ready.'”
A terrible silence filled the study.
Dominic straightened.
“Gabriel, send the container for independent analysis. No one in this house touches it again.”
Gabriel nodded.
Then Dominic turned toward Mrs. Hargrove.
“Who authorized you to search Mara's locker?”
The older woman stiffened.
“I believed it was necessary, sir.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Mrs. Hargrove swallowed.
“No one.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Interesting.”
He glanced at Gabriel.
“Put Mrs. Hargrove's movements under review as well.”
Her eyes widened.
“Mr. Moretti, I've served this family for twenty-three years.”
“And Mara has served it for six.”
His voice hardened.
“Neither fact makes someone guilty or innocent.”
For the first time, I realized Dominic wasn't merely angry.
He was hunting.
Before anyone could speak, his phone vibrated.
He answered without looking away from Mrs. Hargrove.
“Yes?”
A man's panicked voice came through the speaker.
“Boss, we found the chef responsible for Ethan's cake.”
Dominic's expression went cold.
“Where?”
“In the north service garage.”
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A pause.
“She's unconscious. And someone left a confession beside her.”
