Chapter 2 - The Strap Was Not Decorative
The black leather strap was looped around Margaret Hale’s wrist.
Not tightly enough to look accidental.
Not loosely enough to ignore.
The other end was clenched in Celeste Ward’s hand.
Five-year-old Lily stood beside her grandmother, crying so hard she could barely breathe.
“Grandma, come here.”
Ethan Hale crossed the stone patio in seconds.
“What is that?”
Celeste did not let go.
“She was wandering.”
Ethan stared at the strap.
“What did you say?”
“She gets confused. You know that.”
Margaret was pale, but she was not confused.
Ethan ripped the strap from Celeste’s hand.
“Don’t ever touch her like that again.”
Celeste lifted her chin.
“You don’t know what happened.”
“Then explain it.”
The host, Richard Hale, approached from the center table.
“Not here.”
Ethan turned on his uncle.
“You saw this?”
Richard’s silence answered first.
Celeste finally said, “Margaret was trying to get into the study.”
Margaret’s eyes dropped.
Ethan noticed.
“What study?”
Richard answered too quickly.
“Nothing important.”
Margaret finally spoke.
“I was looking for the blue folder.”
Every member of the Hale family froze.
Celeste’s fingers curled.
Richard stared at Margaret.
May you like
And Ethan realized the strap had never been the real reason everyone was afraid.
The blue folder was.
