Chapter 1984

were made.

The officer poised with a pen asked, “Mrs.

Payne, you’ve claimed that confining Nala in the basement was a domestic discipline, not abduction or unlawful detention.

Could you provide us with concrete evidence?”

“Certainly.

Lucinda reached for the hem of her dress, her hands returning empty.

It was at this moment she realized her oversight.

She had intended to visit the babies but had left in such a rush she forgot her designer bag and even her phone at the Paynes’ house.

Amidst the chaos of recent days, such an error seemed almost forgivable.

“I had commissioned a paternity test through my brother, Hilliard.

The results, which were to support my claim, are in my bag.

accompany you, I left

them from

The officers exchanged glances.

dictated that Lucinda couldn’t leave without providing the

asking to

was outside their standard procedure, and they couldn’t easily grant such a

“Mrs.

recall exactly where you left your

attempting to retrace her

might be in my

only place I

them on the nightstand, quite carelessly,

officer nodded, acknowledging

“We understand your situation.

retrieve your bag and phone from the

her current inability to leave the station, Lucinda acquiesced, instructing them to proceed with

“Please, do so quietly.

imperative not

The villa was crowded.

members suspecting Norton’s condition, potentially alerting adversaries to the

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