Little Sophie Pointed at the Security Monitor After Her Backpack Vanished — Then Her Father Saw Who Had Taken It
Chapter 3 — The Missing Bracelet
Ryan immediately crouched beside Sophie.
“Sweetheart, check everything.”
Sophie placed the backpack on a chair.
She opened the main compartment.
Sketchbook.
Lunch container.
Pencil case.
Blue sweater.
Everything appeared normal.
Then Sophie opened the small inside zipper.
She froze.
Ryan saw her expression.
“What?”
Sophie pushed her hand deeper into the pocket.
Then again.
“It’s gone.”
Ryan’s stomach tightened.
“What is?”
Sophie looked up.
“Mommy’s bracelet.”
Ryan closed his eyes for half a second.
Karen immediately spoke.
“Are you certain it was inside?”
Ryan turned so quickly that she stopped talking.
“Don’t.”
“I’m only asking—”
“She checks that bracelet before we leave home.”
Sophie nodded.
“I put it in the little pocket.”
Karen looked toward Jason.
Ryan stood.
“Who can delete security footage?”
Jason hesitated.
“Managers.”
“Anyone else?”
“Supervisors with administrator access.”
“How many people is that?”
Jason counted silently.
“Four.”
Ryan looked at Karen.
“Are you one of them?”
Karen didn’t answer.
Jason did.
“Yes.”
Ryan’s expression hardened.
“Did you delete those forty-seven seconds?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then show me who logged into the system.”
Jason began typing.
Karen reached for the keyboard.
“That’s confidential employee information.”
Ryan stepped between them.
“My dead wife’s bracelet just disappeared from my daughter’s bag.”
The lobby had become quiet.
Several parents were watching now.
Karen lowered her voice.
“Please don’t make a scene.”
Ryan stared at her.
“I’m not the person who made this scene.”
Jason opened the access history.
The deletion had occurred at 11:16 AM.
User account:
KAREN.W
Nobody spoke.
