Chapter 3 - The Maid They Tried to Blame
Belle stared at Sully.
“What did you just say?”
“The missing bolts were recovered from your cleaning cart.”
“That isn't possible.”
“They were wrapped in a blue cleaning cloth.”
Belle's face turned white.
She knew that cloth.
Every staff member in the estate used blue cloths for glass and polished metal.
There were dozens in the supply closets.
“My cart was in the east hallway.”
Sully nodded.
“That's correct.”
“Then how did something from the west balcony end up inside it?”
“We're investigating.”
Belle looked at Renick.
He had not moved.
His daughter still held Micah's hand.
The two children were standing beneath a painting of a summer garden, unaware of how quickly the air had changed.
“You think I did this?” Belle asked.
Renick's expression was unreadable.
“I haven't accused you.”
“Your manager just told me evidence was found in my cart.”
“Yes.”
“After my son almost died saving your daughter.”
His jaw tightened.
“I know what happened today.”
“Do you?”
Renick took one step closer.
Belle refused to retreat.
“My son was hanging onto your little girl over a stone courtyard.”
Her voice shook.
“And now someone wants you to believe I loosened a railing in a house where I need every paycheck to keep the lights on.”
Sully looked uncomfortable.
Renick glanced toward the children.
“Let's discuss this outside.”
“No.”
Belle spoke before she could think.
“No more whispering around my son.”
Micah looked up.
“Mom?”
She turned instantly.
“It's okay, baby.”
“Are we in trouble?”
“No.”
Renick watched her face change when she spoke to her child.
Fear and anger disappeared beneath a gentleness that seemed almost painful.
He remembered Elise doing the same thing.
Renick stepped toward Micah.
“Listen to me, son.”
Micah stood straighter.
“You are not in trouble.”
“Is my mom?”
Renick hesitated.
That hesitation was answer enough.
Micah's eyes filled.
“She didn't do anything.”
“I haven't said she did.”
“She was with me in the kitchen before I went upstairs.”
Belle blinked.
“Micah.”
The boy continued.
“She was cutting apples.”
Renick looked at Sully.
“What time?”
“Approximately 2:10.”
“The balcony failed at 2:18,” Renick said.
“That's correct.”
“Could Mrs. Ashford have reached the balcony, removed three bolts, returned downstairs, and resumed working without being noticed?”
Sully hesitated.
“Unlikely.”
“Then why are we discussing her as though she's a suspect?”
“Because the bolts—”
“Were found in a cart accessible to half the household.”
Sully fell silent.
Renick turned back to Belle.
“I'm sorry.”
She hadn't expected those words.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Renick continued.
“I should have asked questions before allowing this conversation to happen in front of the children.”
Belle swallowed.
“Thank you.”
Then she remembered the messages.
Her stomach tightened again.
“There's something you need to see.”
She took out her phone.
Renick read the photograph and the threat beneath it.
His expression changed so completely that Belle instinctively moved toward Micah.
“Who sent this?”
“I don't know.”
“When?”
“Twenty-nine minutes ago.”
“Have you responded?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Renick turned toward Sully.
“Get Nathaniel.”
Sully immediately reached for his earpiece.
“Sir, if the sender is inside our network—”
“Then I want them found before they realize we know.”
Belle held out her hand.
“I need my phone back.”
Renick looked at her.
She had forgotten he'd taken it.
“Of course.”
He returned it immediately.
A small gesture.
But an important one.
He was beginning to understand that Belle Ashford would not tolerate being treated like a possession.
Even by him.
“Mrs. Ashford,” he said, “I need to ask whether anyone has threatened you before.”
“Not until today.”
“Any trouble since you started here?”
Belle hesitated.
“There was something.”
Renick waited.
“Three days ago, someone went through my locker.”
“What was missing?”
“Nothing expensive.”
“What, then?”
“A photograph.”
Micah looked up.
“The one of Dad?”
Belle nodded.
A small photograph of Belle, her late husband Aaron, and baby Micah at the Boston Common carousel.
She kept it inside a little plastic frame.
It had disappeared from her locker and reappeared the next morning.
Except the backing had been removed.
“Why didn't you report it?” Renick asked.
“I thought somebody was being careless.”
“And now?”
“Now I don't know.”
Renick looked at Sully.
“Search the employee-access records.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And no one touches Mrs. Ashford's belongings again.”
Sully nodded and left.
Renick watched the children.
Micah was whispering something to Brinley.
She responded by drawing a tiny bird in the air with her finger.
“What are they doing?” he asked.
Belle followed his gaze.
“Talking.”
Renick looked confused.
“She hasn't spoken to anyone in over a year.”
“They're still talking.”
Brinley lifted one finger.
Micah lifted two.
Then both children smiled.
Renick felt a sharp ache in his chest.
“What does that mean?”
Belle's voice softened.
“You'd have to ask them.”
A security officer appeared.
“Sir, Nathaniel needs you downstairs.”
Renick glanced toward the hallway.
“Tell him I'm coming.”
The guard did not move.
“Sir, it's urgent.”
Renick's patience thinned.
“What happened?”
The man looked at Belle.
Then lowered his voice.
“We traced the message.”
Renick went still.
“To whom?”
May you like
The guard swallowed.
“The photograph was sent from a phone registered to your private security chief.”
