Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WITH THE KEYS
“Which lady?” Roman asked.
Rachel put a hand on his shoulder.
“She’s four. Let her breathe.”
Nobody spoke to Roman Bellini that way.
He moved back.
Rachel handed Sophie a juice box. “You don’t have to answer everybody right now.”
Sophie leaned against her mother, exhausted.
Charles approached with his phone pressed against his chest.
“We need to be careful. Children repeat things. Elise has an excellent reputation.”
Roman looked up.
“I didn’t say Elise.”
“She’s the nurse on duty. Obviously.”
Before Roman could answer, a doctor came through the doors.
Nicholas was responding to treatment. He needed continued monitoring. They couldn’t promise there would be no complications, but his condition was improving.
Roman put one hand against the wall.
“Can I see him?”
“In a few minutes.”
“I’ll wait.”
For once, waiting felt like something he could do for his son.
Dean arrived carrying a clear evidence bag that the responding officer had allowed him to photograph before collection. On his phone was a picture of the sedan’s key ring.
A silver swallow hung beside the key fob.
Roman recognized it. Elise Hart wore it clipped to her uniform pocket.
“Where is she?”
“Police are speaking with her at the house.”
“What did she say?”
Dean hesitated. “She says you told her to get him out of the nursery. You were on a call and didn’t want the noise.”
Roman’s voice went flat. “I never said that.”
Charles stepped closer.
“Then let me handle it.”
Roman glanced at the documents beneath Charles’s arm. Emergency guardianship. Parental neglect. Unsafe domestic environment.
The same papers that had been spread across his desk before Sophie came running.
“You brought those here?”
“Your sister is concerned.”
“My son almost died.”
“Which makes a temporary arrangement more urgent.”
Across the hall, Rachel’s face tightened.
“He hasn’t even held his baby yet.”
Charles ignored her.
Dean turned his phone around. Elise had shown police a text message from a number saved as Roman Bellini.
KEEP HIM AWAY FROM MY OFFICE. I DON'T CARE HOW.
Roman read it twice.
Then he checked his own phone.
There was no such message.
May you like
Charles lowered his voice.
“Roman, if they believe that came from you, you may not be taking Nicholas home.”
