Chapter 15 - THE MAN INSIDE THE HOUSE|
Adrian watched the security footage in silence.
The man in the uniform entered the hospital through the service corridor, spoke to a nurse, and disappeared into the pharmacy. He was wearing a cap, but the camera captured his face when he turned toward the elevator.
It was Peter Lawson.
The same contractor who had helped Victor abduct Isabella.
"Find him," Adrian said.
His security chief nodded.
"We're tracking his vehicle."
"Alive."
"Yes, sir."
Elena studied the footage.
"He's not acting alone."
Adrian looked at her.
"Why?"
"He knows exactly where the cameras are. He avoids every blind spot. Someone gave him the hospital layout."
"Charles."
"Maybe. But how did he know Isabella would be treated here?"
Adrian looked toward the window.
"Someone in my house told him."
Margaret spoke quietly.
"Celeste."
Adrian shook his head.
"She was detained after the clinic."
"Then someone else."
Elena remembered the old photograph, the blue room, the missing locket, the doctor, and the repeated warnings.
"Who had access to Isabella's medication before she became sick?"
"Celeste. Dr. Howard. Victor. The nurses."
"Anyone else?"
Margaret hesitated.
"Your housekeeper."
Adrian frowned.
"Rosa?"
"She has worked here for twenty years."
"She raised you," Margaret said. "She has access to every room."
Elena looked at the footage again.
"Find out where she was when Isabella collapsed."
The security chief checked the records.
"She was at the estate."
"Was she seen on camera?"
He shook his head.
"Not during the hour before the incident."
Adrian's expression darkened.
They returned to the estate. Rosa was in the kitchen, preparing tea. She looked up when they entered.
"Mr. Corsetti. I heard about the little girl. Is she all right?"
Adrian placed the hospital footage on the counter.
"Where were you yesterday?"
Rosa looked at the screen.
"In the kitchen."
"All day?"
"Yes."
Elena watched her hands.
They were trembling.
"Rosa," Elena said gently. "Did you give Isabella anything?"
The older woman looked at her.
"How dare you?"
"She was sick. Someone gave her a substance that could have killed her."
"I would never hurt that child."
"Then help us understand what happened."
Rosa's eyes filled.
"I didn't know it would hurt her."
Adrian went still.
"What did you give her?"
"Her medicine. Miss Celeste said it was prescribed."
"How much?"
"I don't know. She gave me the bottle."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Where is it?"
Rosa pointed toward a cabinet.
The bottle was gone.
"I threw it away," she whispered.
"Why?"
"Because Miss Celeste told me to."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Where is she now?"
"I don't know."
Elena looked at Rosa.
"Did Celeste tell you why Isabella needed the medicine?"
"She said the girl was having nightmares. She said it would help her sleep."
"Did she ever mention Sophia?"
Rosa looked down.
"Every night."
"What?"
"Isabella would wake up crying for her mother. Miss Celeste said it was better if the child forgot."
Adrian closed his eyes.
Rosa began to cry.
"I'm sorry. I thought I was helping."
Before he could respond, a guard entered.
"Sir, we found Peter Lawson."
"Where?"
"At the harbor."
"Bring him here."
The guard hesitated.
"He's dead."
Adrian looked up.
"How?"
"Gunshot. But we found something in his pocket."
He placed a small envelope on the counter.
Inside was a photograph of Adrian's father, Dominic Corsetti, standing beside Charles Voss.
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On the back, someone had written:
Dominic didn't die in the hospital. He was moved.
