Richard: Maria, take Clara into the study and close the door. Keep her calm.
Maria: Right away, sir. Come here, little one.
Maria gently lifted the baby out of the stroller, holding her close as she walked into the side room and clicked the heavy oak door shut.
Margarethe: Richard, please listen to reason. You are emotional right now because of what happened to Sarah last year. You're reacting out of fear.
Richard: Don't you dare bring my late wife's name into this.
Margarethe: I am trying to protect this family from a scandal! If the police start investigating, the board of directors will panic!
Richard: Let them panic. I want answers.
Two police officers knocked firmly on the front doors before pushing them open, their hands resting near their utility belts as they assessed the scene.
Officer Davis: Dallas PD. We received a 911 report regarding a child endangerment incident. Who called?
Richard: I had my housekeeper call. I'm Richard Vance. This is my home.
Officer Davis: Mr. Vance. Is the child safe?
Richard: She's inside the study with the housekeeper. She seems physically uninjured, but she was inside that stroller when it came down these stairs.
Margarethe: Officer, it was a terrible domestic accident! The maid left the brake off, and the stroller rolled!
Richard: My wife claims it was an accident. My daughter told me her stepmother pushed her.
Officer Davis: Ma'am, stay where you are at the top of the stairs, please. Officer Miller, go check on the child.
Margarethe: This is ridiculous! You are taking the word of a toddler who can barely formulate complete sentences!
Richard: We don't have to rely on anyone's word, Margarethe.
Margarethe paused, looking down at him with narrowed eyes.
Margarethe: What does that mean?
Richard: When Sarah got sick last year, we installed high-definition security cameras in every primary hallway and living space. You knew about the exterior ones, but you never asked about the indoor system.
Margarethe's face went completely pale.
Margarethe: The... indoor cameras?
Richard: Look right above the decorative molding directly across from where you're standing. Third smoke detector from the left.
Margarethe slowly turned her head toward the ceiling. A tiny red light blinked quietly inside the casing.
Richard: It records twenty-four hours a day directly to a secure cloud server. Motion-activated, high-resolution audio and video.
Margarethe: You... you put cameras in our private space without telling me?
Richard: It's my house, Margarethe. And right now, I'm pulling up the live playback on my phone.
Leave a Comment