CHAPTER 8: The Baby Monitor
The object that ruined Celeste was not a legal document.
It was a baby monitor.
Naomi noticed it first. Through the blur of pain and exhaustion, her eyes moved toward the shelf near the salon doorway. Celeste had ordered the nursery cameras installed weeks earlier, claiming she wanted to prepare the mansion for charity guests bringing children to the gala.
But one camera had been angled incorrectly.
It faced the west salon.
Naomi had seen the small green light blinking when Celeste threw the soup.
“Adrian,” she said quietly.
He turned.
“The camera.”
Celeste’s head snapped toward the shelf.
For a second, everyone stood still.
Then Celeste lunged.
Adrian moved faster. He caught her wrist before she reached the camera, not violently, but firmly enough that she could not take another step.
“Let go of me,” Celeste hissed.
“No.”
Mrs. Delaney backed toward the hallway and called security. Adrian reached into his pocket and dialed his attorney, Michael Stanton, a man known for speaking softly before destroying people in court.
“Michael,” Adrian said, eyes locked on Celeste. “I need you at the house. Bring a forensic technician. Also call Detective Ramirez.”
Celeste’s lips parted.
“You wouldn’t bring police into your own home.”
Adrian looked at Naomi. At the soup in her hair. At the unsigned confession. At the bracelet lying like a dead lie on the table.
“This hasn’t been my home for a long time,” he said.
Celeste’s composure cracked.
She tried to twist free. Adrian released her only when two security guards entered and blocked the doorway.
Naomi watched the green light continue to blink.
May you like
For months, Celeste had controlled every room.
Now one room had watched her back.
