Chapter 2 - Nobody Moved
Michael did not react the way I expected.
No outrage.
No instant defense of Rose.
No command for security to remove me.
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then at Rose.
“Afraid?”
Rose laughed.
“She’s being dramatic.”
I saw something change in Michael’s face.
Not belief.
Attention.
Those are different.
He turned toward the guests.
“I apologize. Dinner will be delayed.”
Rose’s smile tightened.
“Michael.”
He ignored her.
Then:
“Mr. Bell.”
The head of security appeared from the corridor.
“Yes, sir.”
“Close the foyer. Nobody deletes anything from the security system.”
Rose stopped smiling.
That was the first moment I realized I might not be the person in the most trouble.
Michael looked at me.
“Were you struck?”
“Yes.”
“Did you kick my wife?”
“Yes.”
Rose threw up both hands.
“There. She admits it.”
Michael did not even look at her.
“Did you believe she was about to hit you again?”
I hesitated.
“She came toward me.”
“That isn’t what he asked,” Rose snapped.
I looked at Michael.
“She slapped me. Then after I stood up, she came at me again. I thought she was going to hit me again.”
He nodded once.
Not agreement.
Record.
Then he asked:
“Is there anyone here who saw the entire sequence?”
Three people raised hands.
One guest.
The footman.
May you like
And Mrs. Lewis, our senior housekeeper.
Rose’s face changed again.
