Chapter 3: The Secret Inside the Purple Ribbon
I spent the next two hours trying to identify the number.
It was useless.
The messages came through an anonymous service, and whoever was sending them knew enough about the Whitmore family to make me uncomfortable.
I called Margaret again.
She advised me not to engage with the sender.
Then I called the police.
An officer named Daniel Brooks took my statement.
He was in his forties, with tired eyes and a calm manner.
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he asked, "You believe Savannah intentionally pushed her daughter?""
"Yes.""
"Did anyone else witness it?""
"Lucas Bennett. Several guests were nearby, too.""
"Did you see anyone record the incident?""
I thought about the party.
The guests.
The decorations.
The phones.
Then I remembered the photographer.
A young woman had been taking pictures throughout the afternoon.
"Yes. There was a professional photographer.""
Officer Brooks wrote something down.
"Do you know her name?""
"Unfortunately, no.""
"Do you have any evidence besides your statement?""
I showed him the photograph of the terrace reflection.
He studied it carefully.
"Where did you get this?""
"I took it before the incident. I was photographing the decorations for my personal records.""
He zoomed in.
"Interesting.""
"Can you tell who this is?""
"I can see two people. I can't establish what they're doing from a reflection alone.""
I nodded.
He returned the phone.
"Don't delete anything. Don't edit the original images. If you receive further messages, preserve them.""
Then he looked at me.
"And Ms. Miller, if you genuinely believe a child is in danger, report that separately. Don't make contact with the family yourself.""
I thanked him.
As I left the station, my phone rang.
Margaret.
"Hannah, I need you to come to the agency.""
"Why?""
"Ethan Whitmore has contacted our legal department.""
My stomach dropped.
"What did he say?""
"He wants us to provide your employment records and terminate your contract immediately.""
I laughed bitterly.
"He's already fired me.""
"That's not the only issue. He claims you stole something from the house.""
"What?""
"A small Christmas ornament.""
I stopped walking.
"That's ridiculous.""
"He says it was a family heirloom worth several thousand dollars.""
I looked toward the street.
I hadn't touched any ornaments.
I hadn't even entered the living room after leaving Grace.
Then I remembered the pale gift box.
The purple ribbon.
And the message asking about the first Christmas present.
Something was happening inside that house.
Something much bigger than a family argument.
That evening, I received a call from a woman named Olivia Reed.
She introduced herself as the photographer from the Christmas party.
"I got your number from one of the guests," she said.
"I think we need to talk.""
My heart began beating faster.
"About the incident?""
"Yes. I photographed the moment Grace fell.""
I stood up.
"Do you have the picture?""
"I have more than one.""
"Can you send them to me?""
There was a pause.
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
"Because Savannah's assistant contacted me this morning. She offered me five thousand dollars to delete everything.""
I gripped the edge of the kitchen counter.
"Did you?""
"No.""
"Why are you calling me?""
Olivia exhaled.
"Because I watched the way Savannah treated you. And because I don't think that little girl is safe.""
My voice softened.
"Can we meet?""
"Tomorrow. There's a bakery on Westbridge Avenue. Ten in the morning.""
"Thank you.""
Before ending the call, she said something else.
"Hannah?""
"Yes?""
"The photographs show something you didn't mention.""
"What?""
"Lucas wasn't standing behind Grace.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"He was holding her.""
The call ended.
I barely slept that night.
At ten the next morning, I arrived at the bakery.
Olivia was already seated near the back.
She was in her early thirties, with short blonde hair and a camera bag beside her chair.
When I approached, she looked at my cheek.
"Did Ethan do that?""
I nodded.
She shook her head.
"Unbelievable.""
"Do you have the photographs?""
She unlocked her laptop.
"These were taken at 7:42 p.m. The incident happened less than a minute later.""
She opened the first image.
Grace stood beside the terrace table.
Lucas was crouched beside her.
He held something in his hand.
The second image showed him standing.
The third showed Savannah turning toward them.
Then Olivia opened another photograph.
My stomach tightened.
Lucas was holding Grace beneath her arms.
Savannah stood directly in front of them.
Her hand was extended.
But the photograph was blurry.
"Can you enlarge it?"" I asked.
Olivia did.
The image became grainy.
Still, I could see something.
Savannah wasn't reaching for Grace.
She was reaching for the little gift.
Lucas was holding Grace while she tried to take it.
Then Olivia opened the final photograph.
It was taken less than two seconds before the fall.
Lucas had stepped away.
Grace was standing near the pool.
Savannah's hand was against the child's chest.
I stared at the screen.
"That's it.""
Olivia nodded.
"I know.""
"Can you give this to the police?""
"I already contacted them.""
I looked at her.
"You did?""
"Yes. I didn't want to get involved, but I couldn't sleep after seeing the pictures.""
I felt tears gather in my eyes.
"Thank you.""
Olivia closed the laptop.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
She reached into her bag and removed a small memory card.
"This contains the original files. The ones I haven't edited.""
I took it carefully.
"Why are you giving it to me?""
"Because I received another message last night.""
She showed me her phone.
The message came from Savannah's assistant.
*Delete the photographs, or we'll make sure you never work in this town again.*
I looked at Olivia.
"She's trying to silence everyone.""
Olivia nodded.
"There's a reason.""
"What reason?""
She leaned closer.
"That present Grace was carrying.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What about it?""
Olivia lowered her voice.
"I saw Savannah take something out of the box before the party.""
"What?""
"I don't know. But she was arguing with Lucas about it.""
"When?""
"About twenty minutes before Grace fell.""
I remembered the purple ribbon lying on the terrace.
The box.
Savannah's sudden movement.
The way Lucas had disappeared.
"Did you hear what they said?""
Olivia nodded slowly.
"I heard Savannah say, 'If Ethan finds out, everything is over.''"
I stared at her.
"What did Lucas say?""
Olivia swallowed.
"He said, 'You promised me she wouldn't get hurt.''"
The bakery suddenly seemed too quiet.
I leaned back.
"She?""
Olivia nodded.
"That's what he said.""
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hannah Miller?""
A man's voice.
Low.
Controlled.
"This is Lucas Bennett.""
I stood immediately.
"What do you want?""
"I need to see you.""
"I have nothing to say to you.""
"You need to listen.""
"Why should I?""
"Because Grace is missing.""
My blood turned cold.
"What?""
"Ethan thinks she's with Savannah's sister. But she isn't there.""
I grabbed my coat.
"Have you called the police?""
"Not yet.""
"Why not?""
He hesitated.
Then he whispered something that made my legs feel weak.
"Because I know where she is.""
I could barely speak.
"Where?""
Lucas took a breath.
"At the old lake house.""
I stared at Olivia.
Then he added:
"And Hannah, there's something you need to know about that Christmas present.""
A pause.
"Grace didn't make it for Savannah.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Who was it for?""
Lucas's answer came quietly.
May you like
"Her real mother.""
And before I could ask what he meant, the line went dead.
