Little Sophie Pointed at the Security Monitor After Her Backpack Vanished — Then Her Father Saw Who Had Taken It
Chapter 4 — Karen’s Explanation
Karen looked at the screen.
Then at Ryan.
“I can explain.”
“Good.”
Ryan crossed his arms.
“Start.”
Karen lowered her voice.
“I deleted the footage.”
Sophie stared at her.
Ryan’s anger rose instantly.
“Why?”
“But I did not take the bracelet.”
“Why did you delete the footage?”
Karen glanced toward the staff door again.
“Because someone asked me to.”
Ryan laughed once in disbelief.
“Who?”
Karen didn’t answer.
Jason looked at her.
“Karen.”
She closed her eyes.
“Mr. Holloway.”
Ryan frowned.
“Who’s that?”
Jason answered.
“The center director.”
Ryan looked toward the empty manager’s office.
“I thought you said management wasn’t here.”
Karen swallowed.
“He left twenty minutes ago.”
“Before or after Sophie’s backpack was returned?”
Karen remained silent.
Ryan already knew the answer.
“After.”
Karen nodded.
Ryan pulled out his phone.
“I’m calling the police.”
Karen’s eyes widened.
“Please wait.”
“For what?”
“There’s more.”
Ryan lowered the phone slightly.
Karen explained that Director Thomas Holloway had entered the front office less than an hour earlier carrying Sophie’s backpack.
He told Karen it had been found near a side exit.
Then he asked whether the security cameras covered the hallway.
Karen said yes.
Thomas told her a parent had accidentally picked up the wrong bag and returned it.
He claimed the parent was embarrassed and didn’t want the incident recorded.
“And you believed that?” Ryan asked.
Karen looked ashamed.
“He’s my boss.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
She looked down.
“No.”
Ryan stared at her.
“So you knew something was wrong.”
Karen whispered.
“Yes.”
Sophie suddenly spoke.
“Was it the man with the red tie?”
Everyone looked at her.
Ryan crouched again.
“What man?”
Sophie pointed toward the staff hallway.
“The one who asked me about Mommy.”
