Chapter 3 - The Teddy Bear on the Patio
Daniel returned to the mansion the following morning with two police officers.
Ellie remained at the hospital for continued observation.
A pediatric social worker had arranged for a hospital staff member to stay with her while Daniel handled the immediate investigation.
Before he left, Ellie had grabbed his sleeve.
"Please don't bring Vivian back."
"I won't."
"And Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Can you get my bear?"
Daniel had forgotten the presents.
He remembered the brown teddy hitting the patio just before he jumped.
"Of course."
"Don't throw away the blue ribbon," Ellie whispered.
"Why?"
Her eyes lowered.
"Mommy used to tie blue ribbons on my birthday presents."
Daniel knew she meant Amelia.
For a moment, his grief returned so sharply that he could barely speak.
"I'll bring everything back."
The mansion looked almost peaceful when he arrived.
Sunlight reflected from the swimming pool.
The hedges had been trimmed.
Birds sang in the trees beyond the gates.
Daniel hated the normality of it.
A police officer photographed the patio and pool entrance.
The teddy bear still lay near the doorway.
Its fur was damp from the previous evening's splash.
The gift bag had collapsed beside a chair.
Daniel picked up the bear only after the officer documented its position.
One of its glassy brown eyes stared toward the water.
He imagined Ellie seeing it from the pool.
Waiting for him.
His throat tightened.
"Mr. Mercer?"
Daniel turned.
Elena Ortiz stood beside the trimmed hedges.
Her work gloves were clutched in one hand.
She was in her early fifties, with tired brown eyes and a face that usually carried a patient smile.
Today, she looked frightened.
"Mrs. Ortiz."
"Is Ellie alive?"
Daniel stared.
"Yes. She's in the hospital."
Elena pressed one hand to her mouth.
"Thank God."
"Why would you think she wasn't?"
Elena glanced toward the mansion.
"I heard what happened."
"From whom?"
"Mr. Price."
Owen Price managed the estate's security system.
He was responsible for the cameras, electronic locks, entry permissions, and maintenance reports.
Daniel had trusted him for nearly two years.
"What did Owen tell you?"
Elena lowered her voice.
"He said Miss Ellie had a terrible accident and that Mrs. Mercer was injured trying to save her."
Daniel felt a pulse of anger.
"Vivian wasn't trying to save her."
Elena's fingers tightened around the gloves.
"I didn't think so."
Daniel stepped closer.
"What do you know?"
Elena looked at the officers near the pool.
"Yesterday, I was told to finish early."
"By Vivian?"
"No. Mr. Price."
"Why?"
"He said the security equipment needed maintenance and nobody should be working near the back lawn."
Daniel remembered Ellie's description of the gray control box.
"What time?"
"Shortly after three."
Ellie had entered the water after four.
"Did you leave?"
Elena hesitated.
"Not immediately. I was putting my tools away."
"Did you see anything?"
"I saw Mrs. Mercer walking toward the pool with Ellie."
Daniel held his breath.
"Was Ellie upset?"
"She was carrying a folded piece of paper."
"What paper?"
"I couldn't see."
Elena looked down.
"But I heard Ellie say she wanted to give it to you."
Daniel felt the pieces shifting into place.
"Did Vivian answer?"
Elena nodded.
"She told Ellie they would talk privately first."
"Then what?"
"Mr. Price came out of the equipment room. He noticed me near the hedges."
Elena's voice became almost inaudible.
"He said I would lose my job if I stayed."
Daniel looked toward the mansion's side entrance.
"Did you tell the officers?"
"No one asked me yesterday."
"Would you tell them now?"
Elena's eyes filled.
"I have two grandchildren living with me, Mr. Mercer. I need this job."
"I understand."
"No, sir. I don't think you do."
Her voice cracked.
"I've seen how Mrs. Mercer talks to Ellie when you're away."
Daniel felt sick.
"What have you seen?"
"She makes the child apologize for things she hasn't done. Sometimes Ellie isn't allowed to eat dinner with the family."
Daniel remembered the evenings Vivian had claimed Ellie preferred eating upstairs.
He had believed her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Elena looked directly at him.
"I tried."
Daniel went silent.
"Three weeks ago. Near the rose garden. I said Ellie seemed frightened."
He remembered.
He remembered replying that children needed time to adjust.
He remembered Vivian smiling beside him.
Elena looked away.
"I'm sorry."
Daniel shook his head.
"No. I'm the one who should be sorry."
Then Elena reached into her pocket.
"I kept something."
She unfolded a small piece of paper.
It was a copy of the previous day's staff schedule.
Across the top, someone had written:
POOL AREA CLOSED — SECURITY MAINTENANCE.
Beneath it appeared Owen Price's initials.
The scheduled maintenance began at 4:00 p.m.
Exactly when Ellie's swimming lesson would normally have started.
Daniel stared at the handwriting.
"Who requested this?"
Elena swallowed.
"Mr. Price said the order came from Mr. Vale."
Daniel slowly looked toward the black iron gates.
May you like
Graham hadn't merely arrived after the incident.
His name had been connected to preparations made before it.
