Chapter 6 - The Prosecutor and the Financier|
Mother sat beside my bed, gently taking my trembling hand into hers while Father stepped toward the window, pulling out his phone to make a series of private calls.
"Amelia," Mother said softly, her tone steady and grounding. "Did Veronica spray you intentionally?"
"Yes," I sobbed, the emotional dam finally breaking. "She pointed the nozzle straight at my face."
"And where was Preston?"
"He came behind me... he grabbed my arms and pulled them down so I couldn't block the spray."
Across the room, my father's back stiffened. His hand gripped the window frame so tightly his knuckles turned white, but he did not utter a sound.
"Do you know if the Caldwell mansion has exterior security cameras?" Mother asked thoughtfully.
I swallowed hard, trying to focus through the pain. "I... I installed a smart doorbell camera near the main foyer entrance two months ago."
Mother raised an eyebrow. "Why did you install it?"
"Because Veronica kept entering our apartment without asking when we weren't home. She went through my personal desk once. I wanted proof."
"Does Preston know the camera records continuous footage?"
"No," I replied, wiping a tear from my burning cheek. "He thinks it only activates when someone presses the button."
"Where is the live footage stored, Amelia?"
"In an encrypted cloud account... linked directly to my museum email address."
A small, dangerous smile touched the corner of my mother's lips. "Good girl."
"Mother... don't call the police yet," I whispered, gripping her fingers.
She paused. "Why not?"
"I want them to keep talking," I said, a cold, unfamiliar anger rising within my chest to replace the fear. "They think I'm weak. They think I'm terrified. I want them to write down every lie."
Mother nodded approvingly. "Fearful people are easily pressured, Amelia. But arrogant people will eagerly document their own crimes while trying to apply that pressure."
May you like
By the next morning, Preston sent his very first text message. Mother enlarged the text on a high-contrast tablet so I could read it through my blurry vision.
Apologize to Mother for the scene you caused, and we can forget this whole ugliness, Preston wrote. I will pick you up at noon.
