Chapter 2

After the hearing ended, Anneth returned to her office with a copy of the case files concerning Victoria's death.

The evidence gathered by the police was certainly strong enough to make Ethan a suspect, but the more she reviewed the investigation reports, the more inconsistencies she found.

Ethan had indeed visited Victoria's apartment that night and was the last person officially recorded as having met her. However, the gap between his departure and the discovery of the victim still left more than twenty minutes unaccounted for.

Leonard was already waiting in the conference room when Anneth walked in.

"You're quick," Anneth remarked, placing the files on the table.

"I didn't want to wait until tomorrow."

"What for?"

"The CCTV footage."

Anneth studied him for a moment before taking the chair opposite him.

"We can review it ourselves."

"That's exactly what I intend to do."

Shortly afterward, two investigators arrived carrying the security footage from the building where Victoria had lived.

They began playing the recordings from eight o'clock that evening.

Victoria was seen entering the building alone at 8:17 p.m.

Twenty-four minutes later, Marcus Hale, her fiancé, arrived and headed straight to the twelfth floor.

"According to his statement, Marcus visited Victoria to discuss their engagement preparations," one of the investigators explained.

Anneth made no comment.

She watched as Marcus left the building at 9:03 p.m.

Twelve minutes later, Ethan arrived with a food delivery.

The footage from the twelfth floor showed Ethan knocking on Victoria's apartment door before entering after the victim opened it.

"How long was he inside?" Leonard asked.

"Approximately thirty-six minutes."

At 9:51 p.m., Ethan emerged from the apartment.

He walked toward the elevator and left the building without encountering anyone.

Anneth noted the time before asking the investigators to continue the footage.

Six minutes later, someone appeared from the emergency stairwell.

"Stop."

The image froze.

The man wore a dark jacket and a cap that concealed part of his face.

He stood in front of Victoria's apartment door for several seconds before taking out a card and holding it against the access scanner.

"He has access to the apartment," Anneth observed.

The investigator nodded.

"We haven't identified the owner of the card yet."

"Keep playing."

The door opened, and the man entered.

Eleven minutes later, he emerged from the apartment and headed back toward the emergency stairwell.

Leonard checked the timestamps on the footage.

"9:57 to 10:08 p.m."

"Victoria was found at 10:29 p.m.," Anneth said.

The investigator confirmed the time.

Anneth leaned back in her chair.

"That means Ethan wasn't the last person to enter the apartment."

"Officially, yes," the investigator replied. "But we haven't established whether this individual had anything to do with the murder."

"Because his face isn't visible?"

"That, and we haven't identified the access card."

"Find out," Leonard said. "I want a list of every card capable of unlocking Victoria's apartment, including those issued to family members, security personnel, building management, and holders of spare cards. Check whether any cards were reported missing or had been borrowed by someone else."

The investigator recorded his requests before leaving the room.

Once the door closed, Anneth reopened Ethan's case file.

"There's something else."

Leonard glanced at the document in front of her.

"The food order Ethan delivered was placed at 9:06 p.m."

Leonard nodded.

"Marcus left at 9:03. Three minutes later, Victoria placed an order, and Ethan arrived twelve minutes after that."

"Correct."

Anneth tapped her fingertips against the table.

"We need to establish who actually placed the order."

"According to the app, the account belonged to Victoria."

"According to the app," Anneth repeated. "That doesn't necessarily mean she was the one holding the phone."

Leonard studied her for several seconds before taking the forensic report from his folder.

"There's another examination that might be even more important."

Anneth accepted the report.

She skimmed through it until she found a note from the forensic examiner regarding additional tests whose laboratory results were still pending.

"A pregnancy test?"

Leonard nodded.

"The results aren't back yet?"

"Not yet."

"Does the police know about it?"

"They know the examination was requested, but the final results haven't been added to the case file."

Anneth closed the report.

"If it's positive, we need to find out who knew Victoria was pregnant."

"And who the father is."

Anneth nodded.

"Start with Marcus."

Leonard didn't argue.

He returned the documents to his folder and stood.

"I'll contact his lawyer."

"There's no need. I'll speak to Marcus myself."

"Are you sure?"

Anneth placed the medical report inside her file.

"If he's hiding something, I'd rather see his reaction for myself."

Leonard offered a faint smile.

"Still the same."

"What?"

"You still know how to make people nervous."

"And you still pay too much attention."

Before Leonard could respond, the phone of one of the investigators who had just left the room rang.

A few minutes later, the investigator returned with a serious expression.

"Attorney Laurent."

Anneth turned toward him.

"We've just received the laboratory results."

The investigator handed her a sheet of paper.

Anneth read it in silence.

The examination results confirmed that Victoria Lancaster had indeed been pregnant.