Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN IN THE CAMERA
Police arrived twelve minutes later.
Richard used those twelve minutes to make sure Vanessa never got near Sophie again.
He carried his daughter downstairs and wrapped her in a blanket.
Then he made her a sandwich himself.
Sophie ate too fast.
Richard had to fight tears watching her.
“Slow down, sweetheart.”
“I’m hungry.”
“There’s more.”
“You promise?”
Richard’s throat tightened.
“I promise.”
When Detective Lena Brooks arrived, Richard showed her the bruises, the locked room, and the bucket.
Her expression changed immediately.
“Mr. Sterling, nobody leaves.”
Vanessa laughed from the living room.
“This is insane.”
Brooks looked at her.
“Then clearing it up should be easy.”
A pediatric physician examined Sophie privately.
Richard stayed close enough that she could see him through the open doorway.
When the doctor finished, her face was grim.
“She’s dehydrated and underfed.”
Richard stared at her.
“How badly?”
“Enough that I want blood work tonight.”
Richard sat down.
Vanessa called from across the room, “She’s always been a picky eater!”
Brooks snapped, “Stop talking.”
Vanessa finally did.
Then Richard remembered Sophie’s words.
The lady at night.
He took Detective Brooks to the security office.
Sterling House had thirty-seven cameras.
Richard entered the system.
The previous night’s footage loaded.
Kitchen.
Hallway.
Driveway.
East corridor.
Richard fast-forwarded.
11:12 p.m.
Nothing.
11:46.
Nothing.
12:03.
A figure appeared.
A woman.
Long coat.
Baseball cap.
She entered from a service staircase.
Brooks leaned forward.
“Who is that?”
“I don’t know.”
Richard zoomed in.
The woman turned.
A silver pendant hung against her chest.
Richard stopped the footage.
His hands went numb.
He knew that pendant.
He had bought it in Florence for his wife, Caroline.
An antique silver lily.
One of a kind.
Caroline had worn it almost every day.
Including the night she died.
Brooks looked at Richard.
“You recognize it.”
“Yes.”
“Whose?”
“My wife’s.”
“Where is your wife?”
Richard stared at the frozen screen.
“Buried in Connecticut.”
Behind them, Vanessa spoke.
“You should stop watching.”
Brooks turned.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
An officer was beside her.
Richard’s voice dropped.
“Who is she?”
Vanessa said nothing.
“Who?”
Vanessa smiled bitterly.
“You really don’t know, do you?”
Brooks stepped closer.
“Know what?”
Vanessa looked at Richard.
“Caroline was afraid of you.”
Richard stared at her.
“You never knew Caroline.”
Vanessa’s smile widened.
“That’s what she told you.”
Then the security monitor suddenly went black.
May you like
Every camera in Sterling House shut down at once.
And somewhere beneath them, a door slammed.
