Chapter 9 - The Sealed Envelope
The lead officer cautiously accepted the manila envelope from Clara’s outstretched hand, his eyes narrowing as he checked the official hospital seal stamped across the flap. The flashing red and blue lights from the cruisers out front cast long, distorted shadows across the patio, turning the tranquil backyard into a surreal crime scene.
“Where did you get this?” the officer demanded, tearing the envelope open and pulling out several folded sheets of heavy medical stationery.
“From Dr. Evans’ office,” Clara replied evenly, her voice carrying a chilling authority that completely belied her status as a domestic worker. “I’ve been acting as Mrs. Thorne’s private medical liaison since her discharge from the psychiatric ward. Mr. Thorne hired me specifically to monitor her medication compliance because she kept flushing her pills down this exact swimming pool.”
David pushed himself away from the glass door, his face pale and contorted with fury. “That’s a lie! I hired Clara to clean the guest house, not to spy on my wife’s medical history! Clara, you were just a local girl needing a job!”
Clara turned her head slowly to look at David, a faint, condescending smile touching the corners of her lips. “Mr. Thorne, do you honestly believe a wealthy estate owner hires a twenty-two-year-old with a degree in forensic psychology just to dust furniture? Look at the date on those employment contracts in the envelope, Officer. Mr. Thorne signed them six months ago—long before Mrs. Thorne’s pregnancy complications ever began.”
The officer scanned the documents rapidly, his expression hardening as he looked up from the papers to fix a stern gaze on David. “Mr. Thorne, you failed to mention during our preliminary questioning that you had a trained behavioral specialist living under your roof under the guise of domestic staff.”
“It was supposed to be a private family matter!” David stammered, stepping forward, his hands raised defensively. “Julianne didn’t want institutionalization. We tried to handle it ourselves!”
“And look where handling it yourselves got us,” Eleanor interjected sharply, her voice trembling as she still cradled the small, motionless bundle in her arms. She looked down at the pale face of the infant, a sudden, horrifying realization dawning on her. “Wait a minute. If Julianne was drugged, and David was hiding in the guesthouse, and Clara was managing the medical logs... who actually put the baby in the pool tonight?”
The courtyard fell dead silent. Julianne stopped smiling, her eyes widening as she slowly pushed herself up from the wet flagstone.
May you like
Clara tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes gleaming under the flashing lights. “Why don’t you ask the person standing right behind you, Ms. Vance?”
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