Chương 4
"That's okay," he said.
"That's a good strong protest."
Elena almost cried at the word good.
Mark crouched nearby.
"Can I hold her?"
"Give us another minute."
He nodded.
The police officer approached Victoria first because she was standing apart from everyone else.
"Ma'am, are you injured?"
Victoria touched her cheek.
"My husband hit me."
The officer looked toward Mark.
Mark stood.
"I did."
The paramedic glanced up briefly, then returned to Clara.
The officer's posture changed.
"Sir, stay where you are."
"What happened?"
Mark looked toward Elena.
"I came in after the fall."
"Then let's start with what you personally saw."
That distinction seemed to unsettle him.
Victoria folded her arms.
Mark explained the open doors, Elena on the floor with Clara, Victoria above them, and the argument afterward.
He included the slap without being asked.
The officer listened without reacting.
"Did you see your wife release the child?"
"No."
Victoria closed her eyes briefly.
The officer noticed.
Then he turned to Elena.
"You witnessed the fall?"
"Yes."
"From where?"
Elena pointed toward the corridor leading to the breakfast room.
"I came through there."
"Show me."
She looked at Clara.
The paramedic said, "Stay where you are for now."
The officer adjusted.
"Fine."
He moved to where Elena indicated.
"Where was the child?"
Elena pointed upward.
"Over the railing."
"Who was holding her?"
"Mrs. Mercer."
Victoria flinched at the surname.
"How?"
Elena swallowed.
"Under the arms at first."
"At first?"
"Then she changed her grip."
The memory returned in pieces.
Victoria's gold dress.
Clara's bare foot kicking beneath the blanket.
The strange quiet before the release.
Elena squeezed her eyes shut.
The officer waited.
"She held the blanket," Elena said.
"Not Clara."
Victoria looked sharply at her.
The officer's gaze followed.
"Explain that."
Elena opened her eyes.
"Clara was wrapped in it."
"Completely?"
"Mostly."
"Was Mrs. Mercer holding the child directly when she released her?"
"No."
Elena's voice became steadier as the image clarified.
"She was gripping the blanket around her."
The officer looked up at the railing.
"And then?"
"She opened her hands."
Victoria said, "That's not what happened."
The officer turned.
"She's twisting it."
"Ma'am."
"You need to know she's twisting it."
The officer's tone stayed flat.
"You'll have a chance to tell me."
A second police officer entered.
Then another paramedic.
The room filled quickly without becoming chaotic.
One officer asked Mark to move toward the entrance.
The other took Victoria several yards in the opposite direction.
Elena watched them separate the couple and felt a strange relief.
For the first time since Clara fell, Victoria could not control the shape of the room.
The paramedics carefully transferred Clara from Elena's arms to a padded pediatric board.
Clara screamed.
Elena's body reacted before her mind did.
She reached for her.
"It's okay," the paramedic said.
"She's scared."
"I know."
"You're coming with us?"
Elena looked at Mark.
He was talking to the officer near the doors.
"I don't know."
"Parent or legal guardian should ride if possible."
Mark heard.
Victoria turned immediately.
"I'm her mother."
The officer beside her lifted a hand.
"Stay here."
Victoria's face went white.
"You can't keep me from my child."
"Right now I need you to remain here while we sort out what happened."
"She's going to the hospital."
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
Her voice rose.
"That's my daughter."
Clara began crying harder as the straps were secured.
Victoria took one step toward her.
The officer blocked her path without touching her.
"Ma'am."
Something inside Victoria collapsed.
Not dramatically.
Her shoulders simply lowered.
The fight drained out of her face.
"Please."
Mark looked toward her.
For the first time since entering the house, his anger faltered.
Victoria saw it and took advantage of the opening.
"Please don't let them take her without me."
He stared at her.
Then at Clara.
Then at Elena.
Elena could not tell what she wanted him to say.
Part of her wanted Victoria kept as far from the child as possible.
Another part saw the mother's terror on her face and hated that it still looked real.
The paramedic lifted the board.
Mark stepped toward the stretcher.
Victoria called his name.
He stopped but did not turn.
"Why did you say Elena was supposed to catch her?"
The officer beside Victoria looked at her.
Victoria's lips parted.
Elena felt the entire room contract around the question.
Mark turned now.
"You said she was supposed to be closer."
Victoria looked toward the study door again.
This time the police officer followed her eyes.
Mark followed too.
The silence lasted long enough that even the paramedics paused.
Victoria whispered, "Because Elena wasn't supposed to see what was in the envelope."
Mark's expression changed.
Elena's heart began beating harder.
"What envelope?"
Victoria said nothing.
Mark moved toward the stairs.
The officer near him stepped in front of him.
"Sir."
"It's in my study."
"Then nobody touches it."
Victoria laughed once through her tears.
"Too late."
Every face turned toward her.
She looked at Mark.
"I burned the original this morning."
Mark stared at her.
Elena felt cold move through her arms.
Victoria wiped under one eye with the side of her thumb.
"But you made a copy."
Mark's face went still.
The officer asked, "A copy of what?"
Victoria looked directly at Elena.
"I don't know."
Elena's breath caught.
Victoria continued.
"She does."
Elena stared at Victoria.
For a moment she was too stunned to understand what had just been placed in her hands.
"I don't."
Victoria's expression did not change.
"You saw the envelope."
"I saw the name on it."
Mark turned toward Elena.
"What name?"
She looked at the police officers, then at him.
"A genetic testing laboratory."
The words seemed to disturb the room more quietly than the accusation about the fall had.
Mark's eyes narrowed.
"What kind of genetic testing?"
"I don't know."
Victoria gave a bitter little smile.
"Of course you don't."
May you like
Elena's fear shifted into anger.
"You asked me twice if I read it."
