A drawer opened.
Glass clinked against glass.
Lily’s voice came closer to the doll.
“Grandma, why are you putting that bottle near our soup?”
Daniel moved so quickly that his chair crashed backward.
He lunged toward the laptop.
The security guard caught him before he reached it and forced his arms behind his back.
Detective Chen paused the recording.
“Sit down,” she ordered.
“This is illegal,” Daniel shouted.
“You cannot record people without permission.”
“Your niece activated a toy in her own home,” Detective Chen said.
“Whether every portion is admissible will be decided later.
Right now, it gives us probable cause to secure the property and prevent destruction of evidence.”
She turned to the patrol officer.
“Call the team at the house.
Nobody enters until the warrant is signed.”
Evelyn pressed a hand to her chest.
“That recording proves nothing.
I was cleaning.
Clara must have spilled something.”
Dr.Reyes, standing near the door, held up the sealed bag containing the doll.
“The stain is not cleaning solution,” he said.
“It is concentrated pesticide mixed with food residue.”
For the first time, Evelyn stopped speaking.
Detective Chen resumed the recording.
Clara’s voice was strained.
