Chapter 2: The Woman in the House
The police arrived twelve minutes later.
Mark had wrapped Daisy in a thick towel and carried her into the kitchen. Her teeth were still chattering.
“Easy, sweetheart,” he whispered.
“You’re safe now.””
Daisy nodded against his chest.
Victoria entered behind the officers as if she were the victim of some terrible misunderstanding.
“This is absurd,” she said.
“My husband is overreacting because his daughter is spoiled.””
Mark turned toward her.
“Do not call her spoiled.””
Victoria lifted an eyebrow.
“She has been causing problems ever since she moved in.””
“She’s eight.””
“She knows exactly what she’s doing.””
Daisy shrank behind Mark.
One of the officers stepped forward.
“Mrs. Hale, we need your version of what happened.””
Victoria sighed.
“I was teaching her proper behavior.””
“What does that mean?”” the officer asked.
“She was near the pool after I told her not to be.””
Mark stared at her.
“She told you?””
“Yes.””
“And then?””
“She became defiant.””
Daisy whispered, “I wasn’t defiant.””
Victoria snapped her head toward her.
“Stay out of adult conversations.””
Mark immediately stepped between them.
“Do not speak to her like that.””
Victoria scoffed.
“This is my home too.””
“No,” Mark said quietly.
“You live here. That doesn’t make it yours.””
The officer glanced between them.
“Was there physical contact?””
Victoria hesitated.
Then she shook her head.
“No.””
Mark looked at the officer.
“She pushed Daisy.””
“Sir, we’ll review the footage.””
“You have cameras around the pool?””
Mark nodded.
“Three.””
The officer raised an eyebrow.
“Then we can verify it.””
Victoria’s face tightened.
Mark saw it.
That tiny flicker.
Fear.
An hour later, they stood in the security room.
The footage was clear.
Too clear.
Mark watched Daisy walk toward the pool carrying a yellow inflatable ring.
Victoria followed.
Then Victoria grabbed Daisy’s arm.
Daisy turned.
They appeared to argue.
Mark leaned closer.
“What is she saying?””
The security manager increased the audio.
Victoria’s voice came through the speakers.
“You do not belong in this family estate.””
Daisy replied, “Daddy said I could play here.””
Victoria stepped closer.
“Your father doesn’t understand what this family needs.””
Then she pointed toward the water.
“Maybe a quick lesson will teach you.””
Mark’s stomach dropped.
On-screen, Victoria reached out.
Daisy stumbled backward.
Then came the splash.
Mark closed his eyes.
The officer paused the recording.
“That appears significant.””
Victoria shook her head.
“You’re interpreting it incorrectly.””
“I’m not interpreting anything,” Mark said.
“I’m watching it.””
Victoria looked at him.
“You always hated me.””
“No,” Mark replied.
“I trusted you.””
Her expression changed.
For a moment, she looked almost frightened.
Then the security manager rewound the footage.
“Sir,” he said, “there’s something else.””
He pointed to the far edge of the screen.
Behind the garage.
A man stepped into view.
Mark stared.
It was Daniel Ross.
His business partner.
And Victoria’s former fiancé.
Mark’s voice dropped.
“What the hell is he doing here?””
Victoria said nothing.
The officer pressed pause.
Daniel was holding something in his hand.
A folder.
May you like
And across the front, in thick black letters, Mark could read two words.
*Hale Estate.*
