Chapter 6
Michael provided the garage footage the following morning.
Alessandra watched alone.
At 7:03 a.m., Gavin brought Tobin downstairs.
The boy was already crying.
Sybil followed with the trunk.
Vanessa arrived eleven minutes later.
Lucas was not with her.
For the next hour Tobin remained beside the pillar.
At 8:19, Michael approached.
Gavin stopped him.
The footage had no audio, but the body language was clear.
Michael pointed toward the child.
Gavin pointed toward the security desk.
Michael reluctantly returned.
At 10:41, Sybil came downstairs.
She brought water.
Alessandra’s shoulders loosened for one second.
Then Sybil placed the bottle on the hood of a nearby vehicle, spoke to Tobin, and walked away without giving it to him.
Alessandra stopped the footage.
Her hand closed around the edge of the desk.
Michael stood behind her.
“I gave him water afterward.”
She turned.
“Why didn't you call me?”
Michael lowered his eyes.
“Mr. Gavin said the punishment had your approval.”
The forged authorization.
Alessandra understood.
Her own name had been used to make decent people doubt themselves.
Michael continued.
“He said anyone interfering would lose their job.”
Alessandra looked back at the monitor.
At 1:30 p.m., Vanessa came downstairs.
She photographed Tobin.
Alessandra leaned forward.
“Why?”
Michael shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Vanessa took three photographs.
One showed the child crying.
Another showed the trunk.
The third showed the empty elevator doors behind him.
Then she left.
Alessandra’s eyes narrowed.
This was no longer just cruelty.
May you like
Somebody had been documenting the cruelty.
And they had chosen angles carefully enough that no adult appeared in the photographs.
