Chapter 4: The Person Behind the Badge
The first thing I heard was Bruno growling.
Not barking.
Growling.
A deep, warning sound that came from somewhere ancient inside him.
The old dog stood in the middle of the security office, his body tense despite his tired legs.
He was looking at the empty space where the ledger had been.
Someone had walked into that room during the blackout.
Someone had taken the evidence.
And Bruno knew.
Darius moved faster than anyone.
“Lock every exit.””
Malik was already on his radio.
“Seal the gates. Nobody moves.””
Security officers rushed through the mansion.
Guests from the engagement party were confused and frightened.
Nobody understood that the celebration had become an investigation.
Nobody except us.
Vanessa stood near the wall, silent.
Too silent.
I watched her carefully.
There was something different about her now.
Earlier, she had been shocked.
Now she looked like someone calculating her next move.
Darius noticed too.
He walked toward her.
“Where were you when the lights went out?””
She looked offended.
“You think I stole something?””
“I asked where you were.””
“I was standing right here.””
Malik stepped forward.
“Security cameras are offline.””
Darius looked at him.
“For how long?””
“Seven minutes.””
Seven minutes.
That was enough time.
Enough time to move through the house.
Enough time to disappear.
Enough time for someone who knew the property.
Malik walked toward the security monitors.
“Someone accessed the system manually.””
Darius watched him.
“Meaning?””
“Meaning whoever did this knew the backup controls.””
“And who knows those?””
Malik didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
Everyone looked at him.
Because there was one person Malik trusted above everyone else.
His own second-in-command.
Leon Graves.
I had seen Leon many times.
Quiet man.
Always wearing dark suits.
Always standing near Darius during important meetings.
He had been with the family for fourteen years.
Long enough to become invisible.
And sometimes invisible people were the hardest to see.
“Find Leon,” Darius said.
Malik nodded.
But something bothered me.
I looked at Bruno.
He wasn’t looking toward the door.
He was looking at Vanessa.
The dog that everyone had dismissed as old and confused was watching her like he knew something.
I walked closer to Darius.
“Mr. Cole.””
He looked at me.
“Bruno keeps looking at her.””
Darius followed my eyes.
Vanessa noticed.
Her expression changed.
“You’re seriously listening to a dog now?””
I expected Darius to ignore her.
Instead, he answered calmly.
“Tonight, the dog has told me more truth than most people.””
That hurt her.
I could see it.
Not because he insulted her.
Because he was right.
A few minutes later, Malik returned.
Alone.
That scared me.
“Where is Leon?”” Darius asked.
Malik’s face was serious.
“He’s gone.””
The room went quiet.
“Gone how?””
“His vehicle is missing. His phone was found destroyed near the west gate.””
Darius looked toward the window.
“So he ran.””
Malik nodded.
“Looks like it.””
“No.””
Everyone looked at me.
I hadn’t planned to speak.
But something felt wrong.
Darius turned.
“What?””
I looked at Bruno.
“He didn’t run.””
Malik frowned.
“What makes you say that?””
“Because if he knew this house, he knew the cameras were going down. He knew the exits. He knew where to find the ledger.””
I looked toward the warehouse.
“And he knew about Bruno and Bella.””
Darius watched me carefully.
“Then why leave?””
“Because someone wanted us to think he left.””
Nobody spoke.
The possibility settled over us.
The person who stole the ledger might not have been escaping.
They might have been setting someone up.
Malik looked troubled.
“You’re saying Leon was framed?””
“I’m saying someone wanted the easiest answer.””
Darius stared at me for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
“You think before you speak.””
I looked down.
“I just pay attention.””
“That’s a rare skill.””
Coming from Darius Cole, it felt like a compliment.
But before I could respond, Bruno suddenly walked toward the hallway.
Slowly.
Purposefully.
He stopped beside one of the security officers.
A man named Marcus Bell.
Bruno sniffed his jacket.
Then the dog growled.
Marcus stepped back.
“Hey, what’s wrong with him?””
Darius’s eyes narrowed.
“Take off your jacket.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Sir?””
“Now.””
The room held its breath.
Marcus slowly removed the jacket.
Malik took it from him.
And inside the pocket was something nobody expected.
A torn piece of the missing ledger.
Darius looked at Marcus.
The officer’s face turned pale.
“I can explain.””
Darius stared at him.
“Start talking.””
Marcus opened his mouth.
But before he could say a word, Bruno walked back toward the warehouse door.
And scratched once.
Then twice.
Like he was telling us the truth was not finished.
There was still something hidden.
May you like
Something his father had left behind.
And somehow, that old dog was the only one who knew where to find it.
