Chapter 4 - The Rabbit in the Laundry Room
“Where’s Mia’s overnight bag?” Lorenzo asked.
Elena blinked.
“In the laundry room. We were going to my sister’s tomorrow.”
“Did Vivien know?”
“She told me I could take the afternoon.”
Rocco was already moving.
Lorenzo stayed beside Elena while his lieutenant checked the room.
For forty seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Rocco appeared in the doorway carrying a little yellow backpack.
“Don’t touch it yet.”
Elena stood so fast her chair scraped the floor.
“What’s in there?”
Rocco set the bag on a clean towel.
Inside, between spare leggings and a picture book, lay a diamond bracelet.
Elena covered her mouth.
“That’s hers.”
Lorenzo recognized it. He had given it to Vivien for her birthday.
Beside it was an envelope containing two thousand dollars.
Mia stirred on the couch.
“Mommy?”
Elena turned instantly.
“I’m here, baby.”
Rocco photographed the bag where it stood, then called the attorney Lorenzo used for problems that needed daylight instead of fists.
“Bring somebody who can document evidence properly,” Lorenzo said. “Tonight.”
Elena watched him.
“You’re not going to ask if I took it?”
“No.”
“You should ask.”
“I heard her threaten you. I’ve seen the forged notice.”
“That doesn’t mean you should believe everything because you’re angry.”
Lorenzo held her gaze.
For years, people had told him what he wanted to hear.
Elena was shaking, and she was still refusing to do it.
“All right,” he said. “Did you take her bracelet?”
“No.”
“Did you put that money in Mia’s bag?”
“No.”
“I believe you.”
A small sound came from the couch.
Mia was sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
“The lady borrowed Bunny.”
Every adult went still.
Elena knelt beside her.
“When, sweetheart?”
“Before dinner. Bunny was in my bag.”
“Did she give him back?”
Mia nodded.
“She said don’t tell. It was a surprise.”
Lorenzo turned away before the child could see his face.
His mother caught his hand as he passed.
“No… rage,” she managed.
He looked at her.
“Proof.”
Rocco’s phone rang.
He listened, then stepped closer to Lorenzo.
“The east service gate was opened remotely this afternoon.”
“By whom?”
“Account says you.”
Lorenzo waited.
May you like
Rocco lowered his voice.
“There’s more. Someone requested tomorrow’s nursery pickup schedule.”
