Chapter 2 - Uncovering The Suspicious Ventilation Grate In The Hallway
Gerald Russo walked me down the long, dimly lit corridor of the children’s wing. The air felt heavy, carrying that faint, peculiar sweetness I had noticed earlier.
I stopped walking, my eyes locking onto a brass ventilation grate set low into the wainscoting. Gerald noticed my pause and turned back with a questioning look.
Is something the matter, Miss Mitchell? he asked, his tone polite but guarded. I crouched down to examine the screws holding the heavy metal grate in place.
The brass heads were completely unpainted, unlike the surrounding white trim that had been coated multiple times. Furthermore, the screwdriver slots showed fresh, clean metal shavings where paint had been recently scraped away.
Someone had removed this cover within the last forty-eight hours, long after the painters had finished their work. Why would anyone need to access a low-level air vent in a children’s hallway so recently?
Gerald shifted his weight, his military posture tightening slightly as he watched me. Standard maintenance cycle, he offered smoothly, though his eyes narrowed.
May you like
Maintenance doesn't usually scrape the fresh paint off custom brass hardware, I replied quietly. Gerald didn't answer, but the silence between us suddenly felt charged with unspoken tension.
I stood up, brushing my hands together while keeping my expression completely blank. Let's meet the boys, I said, leaving Gerald to stare nervously at the innocent-looking vent.
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