Chapter 2: The Name on the Notepad
One of the officers stepped directly in front of Beatrice.
"Ma'am, how did you know something was found under the sofa?"
Beatrice's eyes darted sideways for just a fraction of a second.
Then she straightened up and pointed at Clara.
"A mother knows when something is wrong with her son.
And I know what kind of woman he married."
Clara's hands had stopped shaking.
Something colder had taken over.
"You brought that plant," Clara said quietly.
"Three days ago.
You insisted on placing it yourself."
The room went still.
Scott lowered his phone slightly.
Beatrice's voice rose again immediately.
"Don't you dare try to twist this.
My son is missing and you're standing here perfectly calm.
What kind of wife acts like that?"
The lead detective stepped between them and looked at Beatrice carefully.
"We're going to need you to come down to the station, ma'am.
Both of you."
Beatrice grabbed Scott's arm.
Something passed between them — not grief.
Something faster.
Something practiced.
Then Clara noticed it.
Scott was still recording.
But he had turned the phone slightly — not toward Clara anymore.
He was pointing it at the detective's notepad.
At the name written at the top of the open page.
A name that wasn't Ethan's.
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What was that name — and why did Scott need to capture it before anyone else saw it?
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The full truth is darker than anyone in that room realized.
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