Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Was Afraid to Lose Her JobTasha barely slept.
Caleb did.
He curled against her beneath the faded blue blanket on their apartment sofa while cartoons played silently on the television.
Tasha sat beside him holding her phone.
No messages.
That frightened her more than a termination notice would have.
Whitmore Development paid well.
The mansion paid better.
After Caleb's father had left when the boy was nine months old, Tasha had stopped believing financial emergencies arrived one at a time.
Rent.
Day care.
Health insurance.
Car repairs.
Everything depended on her keeping this job.
At seven the next morning, Caleb woke.
"Mommy?"
"Morning, baby."
He rubbed his eyes.
"Are you mad?"
Her heart broke.
"No."
"You said don't tell."
Tasha pulled him onto her lap.
"I said don't say things unless you're sure."
"I sure."
She searched his face.
"What exactly did you see?"
Caleb pointed vaguely upward.
"Lady came in."
"Mrs. Whitmore?"
He nodded.
"She did this."
He grabbed the front of his pajama shirt and pulled it away from his stomach.
"Then belly came off."
Tasha swallowed.
"What did she do with it?"
"Put it in black box."
"Then what?"
"She saw me."
Tasha froze.
"Vanessa saw you?"
Caleb nodded.
"What did she say?"
He frowned, trying to remember.
"Go find Mommy."
That explained something.
Vanessa hadn't been shocked merely because Caleb spoke.
She had known he might.
At the mansion, Daniel was already in his office when Tasha arrived.
He had not slept either.
She knocked.
"Come in."
Tasha remained near the door.
"I need to tell you something."
Daniel's attention sharpened.
"Caleb says Mrs. Whitmore saw him."
Silence.
"When?"
"After whatever he saw upstairs."
Daniel leaned back slowly.
"What exactly did she say?"
"'Go find Mommy.' That's what he remembers."
Daniel rubbed his jaw.
Tasha added quickly, "I'm not saying he's right."
"I understand."
"I don't want him involved in this."
"He won't be."
"You mean that?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
Then Daniel said, "Tasha, if Vanessa asks you about this, don't lie for me."
Tasha frowned.
"I'm serious. You don't work for me as a witness. You work here as a housekeeper."
"Then what am I supposed to say?"
"The truth."
She almost laughed.
"For people like me, the truth doesn't always come with benefits."
Daniel didn't answer.
She left.
Minutes later Vanessa entered.
"Did you question her?"
"No."
"Daniel."
"Caleb says you saw him upstairs."
Vanessa stopped.
Only briefly.
Then she sighed.
"I probably did."
"You didn't mention that last night."
"Because I see dozens of people in this house."
"A three-year-old wandering inside your private hallway during a party?"
She folded her arms.
"Fine. I saw him near the nursery. I sent him downstairs."
Daniel watched her.
"Why?"
"Because there were tools in there."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because until last night, it was irrelevant."
She turned to leave.
Daniel spoke before she reached the door.
"Where's your obstetrician's office?"
Vanessa turned slowly.
"What?"
"I want to come to your next appointment."
Her expression became unreadable.
"You've missed plenty before."
"I won't miss the next one."
"Why?"
"Because I want to see my child."
For several seconds neither moved.
Then Vanessa smiled.
"Of course."
She walked out.
Daniel remained at his desk.
Five minutes later he heard a car leaving the driveway.
He looked through the window.
Vanessa's Mercedes disappeared through the gates.
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And upstairs, in the nursery, a closet Daniel had searched the night before stood open.
On the floor beneath a stack of blankets lay a single strip of beige silicone adhesive.
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