Chapter 2
Alessandra took Tobin upstairs to the hotel physician before questioning anyone else.
The boy was dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted, but there was no serious physical injury.
The doctor’s eyes hardened while examining the dirt beneath Tobin’s feet.
“He was down there without shoes?”
Alessandra nodded.
Her hand rested lightly against Tobin’s back.
The doctor inhaled through his nose.
Then looked away before speaking.
“That isn't discipline.”
Alessandra did not answer.
She already knew.
Tobin fell asleep while drinking warm milk.
Only then did Alessandra return downstairs.
Gavin was waiting in a private security office with Sybil and Vanessa.
Ethan had been removed from the hotel floor.
Michael stood near the monitors.
Alessandra placed Tobin’s packed trunk in the center of the room.
“When was this packed?”
Sybil answered first.
“This morning.”
Michael’s eyes shifted.
Alessandra noticed.
“What?”
Michael hesitated.
Gavin’s hand slowly curled against the chair arm.
Michael looked directly at Alessandra.
“I saw that trunk three days ago.”
Silence.
Vanessa’s eyes moved toward Gavin.
Sybil’s lips tightened.
Alessandra stepped closer to Michael.
“Where?”
“Loading level.”
He swallowed.
“Mr. Gavin told staff it contained old nursery things.”
Alessandra turned.
Gavin’s breath left slowly through his nose.
She did not raise her voice.
“You packed my son's room three days before punishing him.”
“He was being moved.”
“Where?”
Gavin said nothing.
Alessandra’s eyes dropped to a document sticking from the side pocket of the trunk.
She pulled it free.
A residential transfer form.
Tobin Ashford.
New primary residence:
Ashford Westchester property.
Authorized guardian:
Sybil Ashford.
At the bottom was Alessandra’s signature.
She stared at it.
Then at Gavin.
“I never signed this.”
Michael stepped toward the monitor.
“Boss…”
His voice had changed.
Alessandra looked over.
May you like
The digital approval had not been entered from Gavin’s account.
It had been entered from hers.
