Chapter 3 - The Locked Nursery
The ringing stopped before Victor reached the west hallway.
Lily stayed with Ethan while Dr. Meyers examined him in the downstairs study. The doctor suspected a sprain and ordered imaging, but the words Victor heard most clearly were, "This kind of injury deserves an explanation."
Victor had no answer.
At the old nursery, the head of security, Grant Keller, tried three master keys.
None worked.
"Break it," Victor said.
Serena appeared behind them. "You really want to do that?"
Victor turned. "Yes."
"Olivia locked that room for a reason."
"Olivia is dead."
Serena's eyes flickered. "Exactly."
Grant forced the door.
The room smelled like dust and lavender.
Victor hadn't stepped inside since the week after the funeral.
The crib Olivia had chosen was covered with a sheet. Boxes were stacked along one wall. Her rocking chair sat near the window.
But the room was not untouched.
A laptop glowed on a small desk.
A phone rested beside it.
And in the middle of the carpet sat a paper shredder filled with fresh strips.
Victor walked toward the laptop.
Serena moved first.
Grant blocked her.
"Don't."
"That is my property," she snapped.
Victor opened the laptop.
The screen was locked.
"Password?"
Serena said nothing.
Lily arrived carrying Ethan against her shoulder. His arm was supported in a soft sling.
"You shouldn't be up here," Victor said.
"Neither should he," Lily replied, nodding toward Grant.
Victor frowned.
Grant's expression hardened. "Excuse me?"
Lily pointed to the desk.
"That phone rang. I recognize the ringtone."
"From where?" Victor asked.
"Grant's office."
Everyone looked at the security chief.
Grant laughed. "Half the staff uses that tone."
Lily didn't blink. "Then unlock the phone."
Grant's jaw tightened.
Serena suddenly smiled.
Victor noticed.
"What's funny?"
"Nothing."
Victor picked up the phone and held it toward Grant.
"Unlock it."
"Sir, I don't know the code."
A soft chime sounded.
The phone had received a message.
The preview appeared on the lock screen.
DELETE THE WEST HALL BACKUP BEFORE HE FINDS IT.
The sender was saved under one letter.
S.
Victor slowly turned to Serena.
"You want to explain that?"
She looked past him at Grant.
Grant moved.
Fast.
He grabbed the phone from Victor's hand and ran for the door.
Lily shouted.
Victor went after him.
But before Grant reached the stairs, Rosa stepped into the hallway carrying a silver serving tray.
Grant slammed into it.
The phone flew across the floor.
Its screen shattered.
Then, from the broken display, an audio file began playing automatically.
A man's voice said, "The nanny takes the blame. The kid never remembers."
May you like
Victor recognized the voice immediately.
It was Grant's.
