Chapter 3 - WHISPERS IN THE HALLWAY|
By five in the afternoon, the storm had escalated into a severe gale, rattling the solid oak beams of the estate.
Damon had retreated to his second-floor study to answer urgent calls regarding his private shipping lanes. Rosa returned to her duties in the ground-floor library, keeping Sophia nearby in the staff breakroom with a book and crayons.
Everything seemed peaceful until high-pitched shouts echoed down the marble gallery.
"Where is it?!" a harsh voice shrieked. "Search every drawer!"
Rosa hurried out into the hallway, her dust cloth tightly gripped in her trembling fingers.
Descending the curved staircase was Mrs. Gable, the senior housekeeper, flanked by Marcus, the chief of internal security for the west wing. Mrs. Gable's face was flushed, her gray hair spilling from her tight bun.
"Rosa!" Mrs. Gable bellowed, pointing a crooked finger. "Where is that brat of yours?!"
Cold panic washed over Rosa. "She's in the breakroom drawing. What is going on?"
"Mr. Cain’s platinum pocket watch—the antique piece left by his late wife—is missing from the master vanity!" Mrs. Gable spat. "It was there at noon! Now the case is bare!"
"I haven't been upstairs today," Rosa urged, her heart hammering against her ribs. "My assignment was restricted to the lower gallery!"
"You haven't, but your daughter was seen near the service stairs!" Marcus sneered, adjusting his heavy tactical belt. "I saw her wandering twenty minutes ago!"
"She didn't wander!" Rosa insisted, stepping forward. "She stayed in the lounge!"
"Check her coat!" Mrs. Gable demanded, her eyes glittering with spite. "Check her pockets right now!"
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Marcus shoved past Rosa, kicking open the wooden door to the staff breakroom.
Sophia sat at the table, her pink crayon frozen over her drawing, her eyes wide with fear as the tall guard stomped toward her.
