Chapter 3 - SOMEONE INSIDE
Salvatore entered the library with the notebook in his hand.
Lucinda sat in a chair between two security officers.
She looked furious now.
Not frightened.
That bothered him more.
Marco stood beside the fireplace.
“I never gave anyone my code,” Salvatore said.
“I know.”
“Could it have been copied?”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
“Anyone who saw you enter it.”
Lucinda laughed bitterly.
“Listen to yourselves. Secret passages. Stolen codes. You sound insane.”
Salvatore put the photograph on the table.
Her laughter stopped.
“Recognize that?”
Lucinda glanced at it.
“No.”
“Your handwriting is on the back.”
“So?”
“So why were you documenting when I left Ruby alone?”
“I was managing the household.”
“You wrote ‘session’ beside dates when her brace was removed.”
Lucinda stood.
“Because I was helping her exercise!”
“She cried and told you to stop.”
“She cries when she eats vegetables.”
Salvatore’s jaw tightened.
“Don’t compare broccoli to an injured leg.”
A quiet voice came from the doorway.
“She threatened me.”
Everyone turned.
Maria Alvarez, the housekeeper, stood there clutching her apron.
She had worked for Salvatore since before Ruby was born.
Her eyes were wet.
“Maria?”
She looked ashamed.
“I should have told you.”
Lucinda’s expression sharpened.
“Careful.”
Salvatore noticed.
“What did she threaten you with?”
Maria stepped into the room.
“My son’s immigration paperwork.”
Lucinda snapped, “That is a lie.”
Maria continued.
“She said she knew people who could make problems for him. She told me not to interfere when she was ‘teaching Ruby independence.’”
Salvatore’s face became unreadable.
“How many times did you see it?”
“Four.”
“Four?”
Maria covered her mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
Ruby was asleep upstairs with a nurse.
Salvatore thought of all the times his daughter had begged him not to leave for meetings.
He had thought it was separation anxiety.
He had told her he always came back.
He had never asked what happened while he was gone.
Lucinda pointed at Maria.
“She’s trying to save her job.”
Maria reached into her pocket.
“No.”
She placed a folded paper on the table.
“I’m trying to save a child.”
Salvatore opened it.
It was a printed message.
DR. HALE APPROVES BRACE-FREE WALKING TWICE DAILY.
Signed:
Lucinda Grant
Medical Household Coordinator
Salvatore frowned.
“Dr. Hale never told me this.”
Maria shook her head.
“I called his office once.”
Lucinda went still.
“What did they say?” Salvatore asked.
“They said he never authorized it.”
Silence.
Salvatore turned to Lucinda.
“You forged medical instructions?”
“I interpreted his recommendations.”
“That signature says approved.”
“He told me verbally.”
“Good.”
Salvatore took out his phone.
“Then he can confirm it.”
Lucinda rushed forward.
“Don’t call him.”
That was the first time she sounded scared.
Salvatore noticed.
“So now you’re worried?”
“Because you’re making this bigger than it is.”
He dialed.
Dr. Aaron Hale answered on the fourth ring.
“Mr. DeLuca?”
“Doctor, sorry for the late call. I need one answer. Did you ever tell Lucinda to remove Ruby’s brace and make her walk without it?”
Silence.
Then:
“Absolutely not.”
Lucinda closed her eyes.
Dr. Hale continued.
“In fact, I gave explicit instructions against that.”
Salvatore’s fingers tightened around the phone.
“Why?”
“Because repeated unsupported walking could delay healing.”
He paused.
“Salvatore… why are you asking me this?”
Salvatore looked at Lucinda.
“Because someone’s been doing it.”
Dr. Hale inhaled sharply.
Then he said something that made everyone in the room freeze.
“You need to check Ruby’s medication.”
Salvatore frowned.
“Why?”
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“Because Lucinda called my office two weeks ago asking what dose would make Ruby sleepy without looking sedated.”
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