Chapter 11 - THE GREEN HAND
Charles wore an emerald ring on his right hand.
Roman had seen it tap his desk, sign his checks, and rest against the coffin at Claire’s funeral.
But Ortiz refused to treat a child’s drawing like a photograph.
“We need adult evidence,” she said. “She’s done enough.”
The drawing went into the growing file. Sophie went downstairs with her mother to look at the fish tank.
For once, the adults did their own work.
Investigators obtained the original messages from Elise’s phone. Nora supplied records Roman authorized her to release. The estate contractor preserved access logs, including the device used to change the nursery display.
The same office computer had sent the message attributed to Roman.
Charles’s assistant confirmed he had been alone in that office before going upstairs for their meeting.
Then Helen Price forwarded a voicemail.
Charles had called her at 2:31 that Sunday.
“Come through the service entrance,” he said. “There’s something you should see before you speak to Mr. Bellini.”
Sixteen minutes before Sophie reached the study.
Roman listened once.
“He knew where Nicholas was.”
Ortiz nodded. “That’s what we’re building.”
Elise finally provided the rest of her account through counsel. Charles had told her to take Nicholas out. Vivian would arrive shortly. The assessor would witness Roman’s supposed negligence, and the baby would be removed from the car.
When Vivian called to say she was delayed, Elise wanted to bring Nicholas inside.
Charles took the keys.
“And she let him?” Roman asked.
Nora didn’t excuse her.
“She says he threatened her job and promised it would only be a few more minutes.”
Roman stared at the hospital crib.
His son’s life had been measured against an employee’s paycheck and an attorney’s schedule.
Elise could have called for help. She could have shouted. She could have knocked on the study door.
A four-year-old had done all three things without calculating what they might cost.
That afternoon, the doctor said Nicholas could soon leave the hospital with follow-up care arranged.
Roman cried in the restroom, quietly, with the faucet running.
When he came out, Nora was waiting.
“There’s an emergency hearing tomorrow.”
“Vivian?”
“She’s still asking for custody.”
“After everything?”
Nora held his gaze.
“Her argument is that Charles’s actions prove your whole household is unsafe.”
May you like
Roman looked toward his son’s room.
For the first time, the accusation had a part he couldn’t honestly deny.
