Chapter 6 - The Man Who Arrived Smiling
Andrew appeared at the hospital the next morning carrying flowers.
He wore a clean gray suit and the concerned expression he used whenever strangers were watching.
“I heard something happened to Chloe,” he said. “Why didn’t anyone call me?”
Grace stepped between him and her daughter’s room.
“How did you hear?”
“Mara called.”
Mara, standing near the nurses’ station, shook her head.
“I didn’t.”
Andrew’s smile faded for half a second.
Then it returned.
“I must have misunderstood the message.”
Officer Cole approached from behind Grace.
“Mr. West, we need to ask you some questions about your movements yesterday afternoon.”
Andrew looked offended.
“I was at my office.”
“From three until four?”
“Yes.”
“Can anyone confirm that?”
“My staff.”
Cole nodded.
“We spoke to them. Your assistant said you left at two fifteen.”
Andrew glanced at Grace.
“I went for a drive. Divorce can make a man feel unwelcome in places that once belonged to him.”
“You entered my house,” Grace said.
“I did no such thing.”
Cole showed him a photograph of the engraved button.
“A button matching the coat you wore yesterday was found attached to fabric in Grace’s garage.”
Andrew looked down at his suit.
“I donated that coat weeks ago.”
Grace remembered the black coat clearly. Andrew wore it every winter and kept it in his office even during warmer months.
Then Andrew noticed Chloe’s pink backpack sitting beside Grace.
For the first time, his control disappeared.
His eyes locked onto the bag.
“That belongs to my daughter,” he said. “I’ll take it home.”
“No,” Grace replied.
Andrew stepped forward.
Officer Cole blocked him.
At that moment, everyone understood.
May you like
Andrew did not care about Chloe’s belongings.
He believed the envelope was still inside.
