Chapter 3 - A Child’s Missing Lunch
The next morning, nobody was allowed to leave the estate.
Dominic canceled meetings.
The guards searched every room.
And I kept Leo beside me.
He seemed cheerful again.
Children were strange that way.
One night could terrify them.
The next morning they wanted pancakes.
“Bea,” he said, swinging his legs beneath the chair, “can I have strawberries?”
“Yes.”
“And syrup?”
“Some.”
“A lot?”
“Some.”
He grinned.
For a few minutes, everything felt normal.
Then I noticed his lunch bag.
It was missing.
I looked around the kitchen.
“Leo, where's your lunch bag?”
He shrugged.
“It was in my room.”
“It isn't there.”
“I gave it to Mr. Calvin.”
My hand stopped.
“Why?”
“He said Daddy wanted it.”
Dominic, who had just entered the kitchen, heard that.
“What did Calvin want?”
Leo pointed toward the hallway.
“He took my lunch.”
Dominic's expression went cold.
“Calvin?”
Leo nodded.
“He said Daddy told him to check it.”
Dominic looked at me.
“Did you see Calvin this morning?”
“No.”
“Did he speak to you?”
“No.”
Dominic immediately pulled out his phone.
“Find Calvin.”
A guard hurried away.
Five minutes later, he returned.
“Mr. Russo, Calvin isn't answering.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“Check his quarters.”
The guard left.
I looked at Leo.
“Did Mr. Calvin say anything else?”
Leo thought.
“He said my daddy doesn't know everything.”
Dominic went completely still.
“Exactly what did he say?”
Leo frowned.
“He said grown-ups lie when they're scared.”
My stomach tightened.
Dominic crouched beside his son.
“Did he scare you?”
Leo shook his head.
“He was nice.”
That was the problem.
The people who wanted to hurt you rarely looked dangerous at first.
Dominic stood.
“Beatrice, take Leo upstairs.”
“What about you?”
“Do what I said.”
I nodded.
Halfway to the stairs, my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One message.
YOU SHOULD ASK DOMINIC WHY CALVIN KNOWS ABOUT THE SAFE.
I stopped.
Dominic saw my face.
“What?”
I handed him the phone.
He read it.
Then he looked toward the hallway.
“Get Leo upstairs.”
I didn't move.
“What safe?”
His eyes met mine.
“The safe corridor.”
“Why would Calvin know about it?”
“Because I showed him.”
The answer came too quickly.
I stared at him.
“You trusted him.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“I don't.”
A guard rushed into the room.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Calvin's car.”
“Where?”
“Outside the east gate.”
Dominic grabbed his jacket.
“Was he inside?”
“No.”
“Then why was his car there?”
The guard hesitated.
“There was blood on the driver's seat.”
Leo suddenly appeared on the staircase.
“Daddy?”
Dominic turned.
“Go upstairs.”
“But—”
“Now.”
Leo's eyes filled with tears.
I hurried to him.
“Come on.”
He grabbed my hand.
As we climbed, I looked down.
Dominic stood beneath us, staring at the blood-stained report.
His phone rang.
He answered.
I couldn't hear the voice.
But I saw Dominic's expression change.
He looked up at me.
Then at Leo.
Then he said quietly:
“Tell me where my son is supposed to be taken.”
I froze.
May you like
Dominic's eyes met mine.
“Because if you're telling the truth, someone inside my house has been planning this for months.”
