Chapter 6 - I Had Suspected The Door
She was right about one thing.
I had suspected.
Not murder.
Not Adrian.
But I knew the rear door bothered investigators.
A fire marshal privately told me, “That chain did not put itself there.”
Days later, company counsel warned that public speculation could destroy Cross Outdoor Supply before investigators reached a conclusion.
Hundreds of employees depended on the company.
Insurance claims were pending.
Adrian insisted the chain was part of an old security practice and had probably been left in place accidentally.
I wanted that explanation.
So I accepted it.
When reporters asked, I repeated the official public line.
No reason to suspect foul play.
Technically, investigators had not declared foul play.
Emotionally, I knew the statement was cleaner than the truth.
I had not locked Sophie inside.
I had not known she survived.
But I had helped make uncertainty disappear.
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When Sophie later read my quote, it looked like betrayal.
I could not blame her.
