Chapter 3 - What Toby Had Seen
Thomas took Toby into a quiet corner.
He crouched again.
“Toby, I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”
The boy rubbed his eyes.
“Mommy told me to hide.”
“Where?”
“In the closet.”
Thomas's heart sank.
“Why?”
Toby looked frightened.
“Evelyn was mad.”
Thomas stayed calm.
“What did Evelyn do?”
Toby's lower lip trembled.
“She pushed Mommy.”
Thomas closed his eyes for one second.
“Did Mommy fall?”
Toby nodded.
“She hit her head.”
Thomas felt anger rising.
But he forced his voice to remain gentle.
“And then?”
“Mommy gave me the black thing.”
“The USB?”
Toby nodded.
“She said, ‘Give it to Grandpa.’”
“When?”
“Before she closed her eyes.”
Thomas stared at him.
“And then what happened?”
Toby pointed toward the bridal suite.
“Evelyn told me not to tell.”
Thomas stood.
The three-year-old immediately reached for his hand.
Thomas held it tightly.
“You did the right thing.”
Evelyn appeared again.
Her voice was softer now.
“Thomas, please.”
He turned.
“What?”
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
She looked at Toby.
“He's a child. He doesn't understand what he saw.”
Thomas stepped in front of the boy.
“He understands enough.”
Evelyn's face tightened.
“You're ruining my wedding.”
Thomas stared at her.
“My daughter is missing.”
“I didn't hurt her.”
Toby whispered:
“You did.”
Evelyn's eyes flashed toward him.
Thomas noticed.
That was the moment everything changed.
A loving bride would have looked heartbroken.
A frightened innocent woman would have rushed to defend herself.
Evelyn looked angry at the child.
Thomas moved Toby behind him.
“Don't look at him like that.”
Evelyn froze.
The ballroom music continued in the distance.
Guests laughed.
People were waiting for the ceremony.
Nobody knew what was happening in the hallway.
Thomas pulled out his phone.
He called security.
“Lock every exit.”
Evelyn's face went white.
“Thomas—”
“Find my daughter.”
A pause.
Then the security chief answered.
“Mr. Thomas, we've been trying.”
Thomas frowned.
“Trying what?”
“We found blood near the service elevator.”
Thomas's grip tightened around the phone.
“Whose blood?”
Silence.
Then:
May you like
“We're not sure yet.”
👉 Thomas had feared Claire was injured; now the blood near the elevator suggested someone had tried to make sure she was never found.
