Chapter 4 - ELENA FOUND THE SECOND BOTTLE
Elena wanted out.
Not of her job.
Of the investigation.
There was a difference.
“I have a daughter.”
She stood inside Adrian’s library with both arms folded.
“I understand.”
“No, you understand theoretically.”
Adrian looked up.
“That sounds insulting.”
“It is.”
Fair.
Elena continued:
“I do not want Sophia followed.”
“She won't be.”
“Questioned.”
“No.”
“Used to see how Titan reacts to someone.”
Adrian’s expression sharpened.
“I would never.”
“Good.”
She watched him.
Then:
“And if Vincent suspects me?”
“You and Sophia leave the estate.”
“Where?”
“Wherever you choose.”
That answer surprised her.
Not safe house.
Not Moretti property.
Wherever you choose.
Adrian was learning quickly.
“I can’t afford to stop working.”
“You won’t lose pay.”
“I don't want charity.”
“Then call it administrative leave.”
“No.”
He sighed.
“You are exhausting.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Elena remained at work.
By choice.
Sophia returned to school.
No more days at the mansion unless unavoidable.
That should have ended Elena’s relevance.
Then she found the second bottle.
Housekeeping had received instructions to clear a guest suite used by Dr. Reynolds.
Inside the bathroom cabinet sat an expensive shaving kit.
Reynolds supposedly removed his belongings.
He had forgotten one small blue glass bottle behind folded towels.
No label.
Elena did not touch it directly.
She photographed it.
Called Dante.
The bottle went to independent testing.
Same compound.
Far more concentrated.
Now Reynolds could not explain contamination as an accidental medication mix-up.
Dante wanted him arrested immediately.
Adrian said no.
Elena stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because Reynolds is afraid.”
“Of you?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“He requested to speak privately with Vincent yesterday.”
That mattered.
Adrian continued:
“If Reynolds is the mastermind, he runs.”
“If Vincent is?”
“He seeks instructions.”
Exactly what happened.
Surveillance showed Vincent meeting Reynolds in a private parking garage.
No audio.
But after the meeting, Vincent called a family-trust attorney.
Topic?
Emergency incapacity procedure.
They were accelerating.
Good.
Dangerous.
Adrian began publicly “declining.”
Canceled meetings.
Used a cane around the estate.
Then allowed himself to be photographed entering a cardiology clinic.
Boston gossip moved fast.
Moretti health concerns.
Vincent played worried cousin beautifully.
“He needs rest.”
“He’s been pushing too hard.”
“Family comes first.”
Elena heard him tell staff:
“We may have to protect Adrian from himself.”
The sentence chilled her.
Power disguised as care.
She had known men like that before.
Her late husband Mateo’s supervisor had once ignored safety warnings because “the crew needs the overtime.”
Mateo died in a scaffold collapse two months later.
Elena had no patience for care that sounded suspiciously like control.
One afternoon Vincent found her outside Adrian’s bedroom.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“Sir.”
“You've been close to Adrian lately.”
No.
Wrong.
“Housekeeping.”
He smiled.
“Of course.”
“Is there something you need?”
“Just curious.”
His eyes moved toward the bedroom.
“Has he seemed confused?”
Elena’s body became still.
“I’m not medical staff.”
“Memory issues?”
“I wouldn't know.”
“Falls?”
She looked at him.
“Why are you asking me?”
The smile cooled.
“Concern.”
There it was.
Later, she told Adrian.
He listened.
Then said:
“You did well.”
“I lied.”
“You avoided answering.”
“I hate this.”
“So do I.”
She stared.
“You’re better at looking like you don’t.”
“That was expensive training.”
She almost smiled.
Then Adrian noticed lemon polish on her hands.
“You always smell like that.”
“Occupational hazard.”
Something about the ordinary comment shifted the air.
Too personal.
Elena looked away.
Adrian did too.
May you like
Neither said anything.
Not yet.
