Chapter 3: The Locked Room
Marcus stood in the middle of the foyer with his phone in one hand and the silver key in the other.
The screen had gone dark.
But whatever he had just read was still written across his face.
“What room?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“The west office.””
My breath caught.
“No.””
Vanessa was suddenly very still behind him.
The west office had been locked for months.
It was where Marcus kept old company records, financial documents, property files, and a bank of security monitors connected to the estate.
Only three people had regular access.
Marcus.
Me.
And the head of security.
Not Vanessa.
Never Vanessa.
The ambulance crew was waiting outside with Zoe.
I glanced toward the open doors.
“Go with her.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not until I know what she did.””
“Marcus, our daughter is in that ambulance.””
“I know.””
“Then go.””
He looked torn.
For a moment, the man who had accused me disappeared, and my husband was simply a father terrified that something worse was coming.
He stepped toward me.
“Stay with Zoe.””
“I will.””
“I'll meet you at the hospital.””
He turned.
Vanessa moved.
“Marcus.””
He stopped.
She forced a small smile.
“This has gotten out of control.””
He didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
“You're really going to leave me here alone after accusing me of hurting your daughter?””
Marcus slowly turned around.
“I didn't accuse you.””
Vanessa's face softened.
“You practically did.””
“I found Zoe's medicine in your bag.””
“I don't know how it got there.””
“And Grace's access badge.””
“I told you, I don't know.””
“And now a security alert says that badge opened the west office.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“So?””
Marcus stared at her.
“So explain that.””
She hesitated.
Then she laughed softly.
“You think I know how your security system works?””
“You've lived here for two years.””
“That doesn't mean I use it.””
I watched her.
There was something almost perfect about her performance.
The trembling hands.
The widened eyes.
The hurt expression.
She looked like someone being unfairly accused.
Then I noticed the smallest detail.
Her right hand was clenched.
So tightly that her knuckles had gone white.
“Marcus,” I said.
He looked at me.
“She knows.””
Vanessa snapped her head toward me.
“You don't get to decide what I know.””
“You knew about Zoe's pouch.””
“No.””
“You knew when I went outside.””
“No.””
“You knew where my badge was.””
“I did not.””
“And you knew the west office existed.””
Everyone stared at her.
Vanessa's face tightened.
“I've been inside this house. Of course I know it exists.””
“You just said you didn't know how the security system worked.””
“I know the room exists, not how to access it.””
Marcus lifted his phone.
“You don't need the system.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You need a badge.””
Silence.
Her eyes flicked toward my missing badge.
Then away.
Marcus saw it.
So did I.
He walked toward the hallway.
“I’m checking that room.””
Vanessa moved into his path.
“You can't.””
Marcus stopped inches away from her.
“Move.””
She didn't.
“You need a warrant.””
“For my own house?””
“You can't just break into a locked room.””
“It's my room.””
“It belongs to the company.””
“I'm the owner.””
Vanessa swallowed.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Move.””
She moved.
Slowly.
Like someone buying time.
He headed down the hallway.
I followed him until the ambulance driver called my name from outside.
“Ma'am! We need to go!””
I looked back.
Marcus was already disappearing around the corner.
I wanted to follow him.
But Zoe was waiting.
I ran outside.
The ambulance doors shut behind me.
At the hospital, the fluorescent lights made everything feel unreal.
Zoe was taken through a pair of swinging doors while I stood in the corridor with my hands shaking.
A nurse asked me questions.
What did she eat?
When did symptoms begin?
What medication was administered?
Did she have previous reactions?
I answered every question.
My voice sounded strangely calm.
Then I sat down.
And for the first time all night, I looked at my hands.
There was still chocolate frosting on one finger.
I hadn't noticed it.
I wiped it away.
My phone buzzed.
Marcus.
I answered immediately.
“What happened?””
His breathing was heavy.
“I found something.””
“What?””
“I’m not sure yet.””
“Marcus, don't make me guess.””
There was a pause.
Then he said, “The west office wasn't accessed from the outside.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It was opened from inside the house.””
“So someone was already there?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did you find anything?””
“There's a computer on.””
“What?””
“The desktop is logged in.””
“To whose account?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Marcus.””
“I need you to listen carefully.””
“I’m listening.””
“The account belongs to you.””
My heart stopped.
“That’s impossible.””
“I know.””
“My password?””
“Your username.””
“But I haven't been in that office in months.””
“I know.””
I stood.
“Then somebody used my account.””
“That's what I'm thinking.””
“What’s on the screen?””
Another pause.
“Files.””
“What files?””
He lowered his voice.
“Employee records.””
I stared at the hospital corridor.
“What employee records?””
“Yours.””
My stomach tightened.
“Mine?””
“Your contract. Your salary. Your personal information. There are copies of performance reports.””
“Why would anyone be looking at those?””
“I haven't opened everything.””
“Marcus, open it.””
“I don't know if I should.””
“Why?””
He breathed out.
“Because there's a folder named ‘Removal.’”
My mouth went dry.
“What does that mean?””
“I don't know.””
“You need to find out.””
I heard footsteps in the background.
“Marcus?””
Silence.
Then—
“Someone just walked past the door.””
“Who?””
“I couldn't see.””
“Lock it.””
“I already did.””
“Call security.””
“I did.””
“What did they say?””
He hesitated.
“They're checking the cameras.””
I looked through the window of Zoe's room.
She was still being monitored.
I pressed my hand against the glass.
“Don't leave that office.””
“I won’t.””
The call ended.
A minute later, another message appeared.
*Marcus: The camera footage has been erased.*
I stared at those words.
Then another message came through.
*Marcus: And Grace, someone is standing outside the office door.*
I immediately called him back.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
My heart began pounding.
I almost ran toward the hospital exit.
Then Zoe's monitor chirped faster.
I turned.
The nurse hurried into the room.
I pushed the fear aside and went to my daughter.
“Mommy's here.””
Zoe opened her eyes.
“Where's Daddy?””
“He's coming.””
She looked frightened.
“Is Vanessa mad?””
The question stopped me.
“Why would she be mad?””
Zoe looked at the ceiling.
“She said I shouldn't tell.””
A chill moved through me.
“What did she say?””
Zoe's fingers curled around mine.
“Before the party.””
“When?””
“In the kitchen.””
“What did she say?””
Zoe swallowed.
“She said grown-ups have secrets.””
I leaned closer.
“What else?””
“She said if I told Mommy, Mommy would get fired.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why would she say that?””
Zoe shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Did she say anything about your pouch?””
Zoe nodded.
“She told me not to bring it.””
My stomach dropped.
“Why?””
“She said the party was safe.””
I stared at her.
“And then what happened?””
“She took it.””
“Where?””
“From my backpack.””
“Did you see where she put it?””
Zoe nodded.
“In her purse.””
“Did she take Mommy's badge too?””
Another nod.
“Why?””
Zoe's eyes filled with tears.
“She said she needed it.””
“Needed it for what?””
“I don't know.””
I kissed her forehead.
“You did the right thing telling me.””
Zoe whispered, “Is Daddy angry with you?””
I couldn't answer immediately.
Then I said, “No.””
But I wasn't sure that was true.
My phone rang.
Marcus.
I answered instantly.
“Are you okay?””
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“I need you to get security to the hospital.””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa is here.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She followed me.””
“Where are you?””
“The west office.””
“That makes no sense. I thought she was at the house.””
“She was.””
“Then how—”
A sound came through the phone.
A door handle turning.
Marcus stopped speaking.
“Marcus?””
Nothing.
“Marcus!””
I heard one muffled breath.
Then his voice, distant and urgent.
“Grace, don't trust—”
The call cut out.
I stared at the phone.
“Marcus?””
No answer.
A nurse looked over.
“Is everything okay?””
I couldn't speak.
Then my phone buzzed again.
A new message appeared.
It wasn't from Marcus.
It was from an unknown number.
May you like
There was only one sentence.
*Stop looking for the person who took the pouch. You have no idea what you're about to uncover.*
