Chapter 6 - The Nanny Who Stayed Eleven Days
The empty medicine bottles were tested.
One contained residue from a sedative.
Another contained an anti-anxiety medication prescribed for adults.
Dr. Calder denied prescribing either medication to Noah.
Dominic fired him before noon.
The doctor protested.
Then Dominic asked one question.
"Who told you the medication was yours?"
Dr. Calder stopped talking.
Dominic's security chief, Mateo Ruiz, began reviewing payroll records.
Clara asked for something different.
"The old nannies."
Dominic looked at her.
"What about them?"
"Talk to the ones who left."
"I did."
"You talked to them when you thought Noah was the problem."
That hurt him.
Clara could see it.
"Talk to them again now."
By evening, Mateo located fourteen of the eighteen.
Most refused to speak.
Three said they had signed nondisclosure agreements.
One woman answered Clara's call.
Her name was Rachel Kent.
She had lasted eleven days.
"I remember the boy."
"Was he violent with you?"
"Twice."
"When?"
Rachel went quiet.
"When Mrs. Hargrove was near."
Clara sat straighter.
"Explain."
"I thought it was coincidence."
"It wasn't."
Rachel exhaled.
"Noah used to sit with me in the garden."
"He let you?"
"After four days."
"What changed?"
"Mrs. Hargrove found out."
Rachel described being summoned to the house manager's office.
She was told she had become too emotionally attached.
That same night, Noah had a screaming episode.
The next morning, Rachel found him hiding beneath his bed.
"He kept touching his throat."
Clara closed her eyes.
"The pearl."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Rachel's voice lowered.
"There was something else."
Clara waited.
"The night before I left, I saw Mrs. Hargrove carrying Noah from the north wing."
"When?"
"Almost three in the morning."
Clara's pulse jumped.
"Was he awake?"
"No."
"Did you tell Dominic?"
"I tried."
"What happened?"
"Mrs. Hargrove told me Mr. Vale didn't tolerate staff making accusations about his family."
"She's not family."
Rachel gave a humorless laugh.
"You don't know that house."
The call ended.
Behind Clara, a floorboard creaked.
She turned.
Mrs. Hargrove stood in the doorway.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Calling former employees?"
Clara rose.
"Dominic asked me to help."
"No."
Mrs. Hargrove stepped inside.
"He asked you to stay near Noah."
Her gaze settled on Clara's phone.
"You are confusing kindness with importance."
Then she placed an envelope on the table.
Inside was a cashier's check.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Clara stared at it.
"Your brother's surgery deposit is twelve thousand."
Mrs. Hargrove smiled faintly.
"This will cover much more."
Clara looked up.
"What do you want?"
May you like
"Leave tonight."
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