Chapter 2 - Eleven Seconds
Marcus ordered everyone into the library except Elena, who refused to leave the terrace until a paramedic looked at Leo.
"He's breathing normally," the medic said after checking the baby's lungs. "But he needs to go to the hospital. Water incidents can turn bad later."
Marcus nodded once. "Take my car. I'll follow."
Victoria tightened her grip on Leo.
"I'm going with him."
"Yes."
Then Marcus looked at Elena's swelling cheek.
"You need treatment too."
She gave him a flat look.
"From the man who hit me?"
His face tightened.
"Elena—"
"Not now."
A young patrol officer approached carrying a clear evidence bag. Inside it was the camera's memory card.
Grant stood five feet away, furious.
"That's private property," he said.
The officer did not care.
"And we have a possible attempted homicide involving an infant. You can argue ownership with my lieutenant."
Victoria's tears returned.
"Attempted homicide? That's insane."
The officer looked at her. "Then the footage should help."
Ten minutes later, they crowded around a laptop in the library.
Marcus stood behind the detective. Victoria sat beside his mother, Evelyn Hale, pale and rigid. Elena remained near the door with an ice pack against her face.
The video began at 8:41 p.m.
There was no sound.
Victoria entered from the garden path, pushing Leo's stroller.
She stopped beside the pool.
Looked toward the terrace doors.
Looked toward the hedge.
Then placed one hand on the stroller handle.
Elena's stomach twisted even though she knew what came next.
Victoria released the brake.
Waited.
The stroller did not move.
So she pushed it.
Hard.
It rolled down the slight grade, struck the pool edge, tipped, and vanished into the water.
Victoria did not scream.
She did not run.
She stood still for almost two full seconds.
Then Elena appeared from the service entrance, saw the stroller, and sprinted.
She jumped into the pool without taking off her shoes.
The detective paused the video.
Nobody spoke.
Marcus looked at Victoria.
She had stopped crying.
"Play it again," he said.
They watched it three more times.
On the fourth, Marcus leaned closer to the screen.
"Go back."
The detective rewound.
"There," Marcus said.
At 8:41:16, just before Victoria pushed the stroller, a reflection moved across the glass door of the pool house.
A man.
Tall.
Dark suit.
Grant Mercer.
He had been standing near the hedge.
Watching.
The room shifted around him.
Grant said quickly, "That reflection could be anyone."
Elena lowered the ice pack.
"It was you."
"You don't know that."
"You wear that silver tie clip every night."
The detective zoomed in.
A tiny flash of silver appeared at the man's chest.
Marcus turned.
"Grant."
The security chief's face hardened.
"I can explain."
"Then start."
Grant glanced at Victoria.
It was one glance.
But it was enough.
The detective saw it too.
"Nobody leaves this room," she said.
Victoria stood abruptly.
"My baby is going to the hospital."
"Your baby is already in the ambulance with a nurse," Marcus said.
She stared at him.
For the first time since he had entered the terrace, his voice held no warmth.
"Sit down, Victoria."
Her mouth opened.
Then the detective's phone rang.
She answered, listened, and looked toward Marcus.
"We have a problem."
"What problem?"
"Your main pool cameras are missing exactly three minutes of footage."
Grant went perfectly still.
May you like
The detective turned the laptop toward him.
"And someone deleted those three minutes six minutes before the stroller went into the water."
