Chapter 12 - The Bride Without a Mask
The laboratory report arrived the next morning.
The syringe contained a strong sedative.
It wasn’t prescribed to Sabrina.
It wasn’t prescribed to Lily.
The detective didn’t discuss quantities in front of Ethan.
He didn’t need to.
“She intended to make Lily unable to resist or clearly describe what happened,” Bell said.
“The exact plan is still under investigation.”
Ethan looked through the kitchen doorway.
Lily was eating toast while Mrs. Alvarez argued gently with her about the benefits of one actual strawberry.
An ordinary morning.
He nearly lost his daughter inside a ballroom full of people.
Sabrina had counted on every one of them seeing a beautiful woman and deciding there was nothing to question.
Bell continued.
“The pharmacy confirmed the bottle upstairs didn’t come from them.
The label was fabricated.”
Grace closed her eyes.
“And Miles?”
“He’s cooperating through his attorney.
We’re checking everything he says.”
“Was Olivia’s car examined?”
“After the crash, yes.
We’re having the retained evidence reviewed.
Miles’s statement gives us specific things to look for.”
Ethan appreciated the careful words even though he hated waiting inside them.
His phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
Bell nodded for him to answer.
Sabrina’s voice came through.
“Please don’t hang up.”
Ethan said nothing.
“I know how this looks.”
“No,” he said.
“I don’t think you do.”
“My father put me in an impossible position.”
“You carried the syringe.”
A breath caught on the other end.
“Lily was hysterical.”
“She said no.”
“I was trying to calm her.”
“You threatened her with her mother’s death.”
Sabrina’s voice sharpened.
“That child repeats things she doesn’t understand.”
Ethan looked at Bell.
The detective made a small motion.
Keep her talking.
“What did Olivia understand?”
Silence.
Then Sabrina tried to cry.
“You loved me.”
“I trusted you.”
“That means something.”
“It meant you could walk into my daughter’s bedroom.”
Sabrina stopped pretending.
“You have no idea how hard it was living in that dead woman’s shadow.”
Ethan’s face went still.
Bell was already signaling another officer.
Sabrina kept going.
“I built a life with you.
And you’re throwing it away over a maid.”
“No,” Ethan said.
“You threw it away when you decided my daughter was something you could silence.”
The call ended.
Minutes later, Bell received confirmation.
Officers had located Sabrina.
May you like
She was at Victor’s office.
Packing cash into a carry-on bag.
