Chapter 3 - The Red Piece
The tiny red object Lily found beside first crown seemed irrelevant.
It was plastic.
Roughly rectangular.
No visible writing.
Ethan thought it belonged to toy.
Lily insisted:
“No. Claire had it.”
“What did she do with it?”
“She put it in white tooth.”
That sounded impossible.
A ceramic crown was tiny.
But specialist examined newer duplicate.
Inside hollow underside, there was unusual modification.
A minute recess had been created after manufacturing.
The red plastic object fit partially into it.
Not normal dental work.
Police asked Claire.
She refused interview without attorney.
That increased Ethan’s suspicion.
Yet Maya warned him:
“Refusing to talk isn't proof of bigger crime.”
“She assaulted Lily.”
“That part we have evidence for. The rest we don't invent.”
Claire’s attorney eventually provided narrow explanation.
The red object was component from damaged electronic storage device Claire had found in house.
She had hidden it temporarily.
Inside dental crown?
Attorney declined details.
Ethan almost laughed.
“This is my house.”
Claire stared at him.
“That's exactly why I hid it.”
That sentence shifted investigation.
“What are you saying?”
Claire looked toward lawyer.
He nodded.
“I found something in your study three weeks ago.”
“What?”
“A memory card.”
“Containing?”
“I didn't know at first.”
“Why not give it to me?”
“Because your name was on files.”
Ethan stared.
Claire continued.
“I thought you were involved.”
“In what?”
She refused answer.
Maya obtained warrant relating to assault and possible evidence concealment only after further facts emerged. Digital specialists determined red fragment was not functional memory card by itself; it was part of protective adapter housing.
So Lily’s description was child interpretation.
Claire had not literally inserted functioning computer storage inside tooth.
She had used hollow crown as tiny hiding place for another object or fragment.
But whatever had originally been there was missing.
The red piece was only broken remnant.
What had Claire hidden?
And who made duplicate crown six days ago?
Dental lab audit produced user account.
Order was submitted through Dr. Helen Price’s office.
Claire’s dentist.
Helen denied ordering it.
Her login had been used after hours.
Security camera from dental office showed someone entering at 9:14 p.m.
Face hidden by hood.
Build unclear.
But person knew alarm code.
Ethan asked:
“Claire?”
Maya wouldn't speculate.
Then Ethan remembered Claire had worked for medical technology company years earlier.
She knew healthcare systems.
Maybe she made own duplicate.
But why?
Maya asked Ethan for household security recordings.
There was problem.
Hallway camera had been disabled for nine days.
By Claire.
She admitted.
“Why?”
“Because somebody was coming into house.”
Ethan stared.
“You disabled camera because somebody was entering?”
“They had access to your system.”
“So you made it easier?”
“I made them think nobody was watching.”
“Were you watching another way?”
Claire said nothing.
Then Lily, sitting with Anna in adjoining room, heard raised voices.
She walked to doorway holding stuffed rabbit.
“Daddy?”
Ethan immediately lowered voice.
Lily pointed at Claire.
“She said the tooth was Mommy’s.”
Everything stopped.
May you like
Claire’s face drained.
Ethan’s ex-wife Emma had been missing for eleven months.
