Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO RAN TOWARD GLASS
Andrea’s blood was on the handkerchief because Mrs. Whitaker had used it to wrap her cut palm.
Mrs. Whitaker confirmed that. She could not explain how it entered Enzo’s office.
Security footage showed Andrea walking down the office corridor at 2:13 a.m. The woman wore Andrea’s blazer and had her dark hair pinned the same way.
Andrea had been asleep in the playroom. There was no camera inside to prove it.
Enzo did not call off the police. He also did not let them arrest her immediately.
“The bracelet disappeared the night Sofia died,” he said. “Whoever has it may know what happened.”
Andrea studied the video. The impersonator held her left arm close to her body. Andrea’s injured hand was her right. The woman also wore polished flats. Andrea owned one pair of shoes suitable for the mansion: the damp ankle boots visible beneath the sofa.
The footage created suspicion but not certainty.
Matteo arrived with attorney Claudia Vale and demanded Andrea be removed from the children. Claudia produced an emergency guardianship petition claiming Enzo’s grief had impaired his judgment and an unvetted employee was manipulating the twins.
It was a sophisticated attack. Matteo was not merely frightening children. He was building a legal record that could place them under his control.
Dr. Cole refused to support the petition. Within hours, an anonymous caller accused her of violating patient confidentiality. Her hospital suspended her pending review.
Andrea was released without charge while police tested the handkerchief and bracelet. Enzo ordered her to leave the mansion until the investigation ended.
As she crossed the foyer, Leo appeared at the top of the stairs. He held the red Lego brick above his head.
“Fire car,” he said.
Then he threw it down.
The brick struck the marble and broke open along a seam Andrea had never noticed. It was not an ordinary Lego. Inside was a tiny memory card.
Mrs. Whitaker moved first.
May you like
She snatched the card from the floor and ran toward the fireplace.
Andrea caught her wrist inches from the flames.
