Chương 11
The third was dark blue, long-sleeved, simple, and almost aggressively respectable.
Naomi would approve.
I hated that.
"Keep Hazel here."
Richard's expression changed.
"No calls to Spencer."
"I won't."
"No calls to Patricia."
"I won't."
"No discussing the financial investigation anywhere Hazel can hear."
"I know."
"And if she wakes up scared?"
"I call you."
"First."
"First."
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Spencer.
Naomi had told me to answer only when necessary.
I watched the screen until it nearly stopped.
Then I picked up.
"What?"
His breathing sounded uneven.
"Gwen, listen carefully."
Something in his voice stripped away my irritation.
"Where are you?"
"That isn't your concern."
"It is now."
I said nothing.
He lowered his voice.
"Cassandra is gone."
"What does that mean?"
"I mean she's not here."
"Maybe she went to the gala."
"No."
"Then call her."
"I have."
I looked toward the stairs.
Richard was watching me.
Spencer continued.
"Her car is still here."
"So?"
"So the security footage from this afternoon is gone."
Cold moved through me.
"Which footage?"
"The living room."
I gripped the phone tighter.
"Who deleted it?"
"I don't know."
"Do you have backups?"
"No."
"Convenient."
"Gwen, stop."
His voice cracked at the edge.
For the first time that day, he sounded genuinely frightened.
"There was something else on that footage."
I stopped breathing.
"What?"
He didn't answer.
"Spencer."
"Come to the gala."
"No."
"Please."
The word was so unfamiliar in his mouth that I almost didn't recognize it.
"Tell me what was on the footage."
Silence.
Then he said, "Not over the phone."
I looked at the dark blue dress hanging in front of me.
"Then you'll tell me in public."
He exhaled.
"Fine."
"And Spencer?"
"What?"
"If this is another trick involving Hazel, I walk away before you finish the first sentence."
His voice went flat again.
"It isn't about Hazel."
I waited.
"It's about Cassandra."
The line went dead.
For a few seconds, I stood with the dead phone pressed to my ear.
Richard came up the stairs slowly.
"What did he say?"
"That the missing footage contains something about Cassandra."
"Meaning?"
"I don't know."
He looked at the phone.
"Convenient timing."
"I know."
"You believe him?"
"I believe he's scared."
"That's not the same thing."
"No."
I set the phone on the dresser.
The blue dress hung in front of me, suddenly ridiculous.
For years I had attended rooms where women discussed foundations and men discussed money, and everybody pretended those were different conversations.
Tonight, for the first time, I would be walking into one without belonging to either script.
Richard leaned against the doorframe.
"You don't have to go."
"I know."
"That matters."
I looked at him.
He met my eyes.
No demand.
No prediction.
No warning disguised as wisdom.
Just the sentence.
I nodded.
"Stay with Hazel."
Naomi arrived forty-five minutes later in a charcoal dress and low heels, carrying a slim leather portfolio instead of an evening bag.
She looked at my dress once.
"Acceptable."
"High praise."
"You'll survive."
She set the portfolio on the dining table.
"We have movement on the custody matter."
I sat down.
"What kind?"
"The emergency request has not been granted."
My lungs loosened.
"Why?"
"The court wants more information."
"From whom?"
"Both sides."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning, most likely."
"Most likely."
"Family court is not a train schedule."
Richard muttered, "Some trains are more reliable."
Naomi ignored him.
"The important part is there is no order tonight requiring you to surrender Hazel."
"Can Spencer take her anyway?"
"Not lawfully if she's in your care and there's no order giving him immediate exclusive custody."
She looked directly at me.
"But do not test that by putting her somewhere accessible to him."
Richard's expression changed.
"This property is secure."
"Good."
Naomi continued.
"Detective Ortiz documented the report."
"Yes."
"And Dr. Leung's notes have already been preserved."
"How?"
"Because I called the office with your authorization form after Thomas sent me the contact."
I glanced at Richard.
He said, "Don't look at me."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Naomi opened her portfolio.
"Now, the gala."
She took out a single sheet.
"I have three rules."
"I thought you had six."
"These are the ones you'll remember."
She held up one finger.
"Do not be alone with Spencer."
A second.
"Do not accuse anyone."
A third.
"If anything feels wrong, we leave."
"Define wrong."
"If you're asking, it's wrong."
"That's efficient."
"I charge by the hour."
Richard checked the time.
"Do you want security inside?"
Naomi said, "Visible security would change the room."
"Maybe it should."
"Maybe not."
She looked at me.
"Does Spencer expect you alone?"
"Probably."
"Then I attend as your attorney, and one security person stays in the lobby area without hovering."
Richard nodded.
Naomi pointed at him.
"You'll arrange nothing beyond that."
He looked offended.
"You're in my house."
"And you're not my client."
I almost smiled.
Hazel woke while I was putting on earrings.
She appeared in the doorway wearing her purple sweater over pajamas.
"You look fancy."
"Too fancy?"
She considered.
"A little."
"Good."
"Where are you going?"
"A party."
"With Daddy?"
"He'll be there."
Her face changed.
I crouched.
"You are staying here with Richard."
She looked toward the hall.
"Can he make pancakes?"
Richard's voice came from downstairs.
"Yes."
Hazel shouted back, "Good ones?"
A pause.
"That remains to be seen."
She looked at me.
"I can stay."
I touched her cheek carefully.
"If you need me, Richard calls."
She nodded.
Then she whispered, "Don't let Cassandra hit you."
My throat tightened.
"I won't."
She reached into her sweater pocket and pulled out the bloodstained napkin packet with her teeth inside.
I stared at it.
"I think you should keep these."
"Why?"
"Because they're evidence."
The word sounded too adult in her mouth.
I looked at Richard.
He looked stricken.
"Who told you that?"
"The police lady."
Of course.
I took the packet.
"Thank you."
May you like
Hazel touched the gap in her smile.
"Can I still get money from the tooth fairy?"
