Chapter 5: Two Jackets On The Security Feed
I didn't move from bathroom tile when dispatch picked up.
My voice shook. I gave Lancaster estate address, north wing, marble room with big window. Said two men still inside house. Said I was locked in bathroom. Dispatcher said stay on line. I said okay. Breathing loud in my ears. Pajama collar damp where I'd clutched it. Blue piping twisted.
Marta knocked outer door again, whispered my name. I told dispatcher Marta was outside, housekeeper, safe. Dispatcher said deputy en route, four minutes out. I stared at marble grout, counted breaths. Outside hallway, men's voices low. Leather creaked.
Deputy Alvarez arrived seven minutes later. He knocked, announced county sheriff. I unlocked bathroom door. He stood in marble room doorway, hand near belt, eyes sweeping fast.
He saw me first — back against wall, knees to chest, light pajamas with small dark pattern, blue piping pulled loose at collar. He saw window light, warm daylight through multi-pane wooden window falling across marble floor. He saw Jace Voss leaning against far wall, shaved buzz cut, stubble, black leather jacket zipped half, chest rising fast. Saw Ellis Voss by window, dark wavy longer hair, beard, black leather vest over dark shirt, hands in pockets, trying to look casual.
Alvarez separated us. Told Jace and Ellis stay by window, don't move. Told Marta stay in hall. Knelt near me, not touching, asked if hurt, needed medic. I shook head. Said clothes pulled, not torn. He nodded, noted detail in small notebook. Said describe jackets, pajamas, window light for report. I watched him write: black leather jacket zipper detail, black leather vest, light patterned pajamas blue piping, white marble floor, warm low-key daylight. His handwriting quick, block letters.
He stood, told Jace name. Jace smirked, said Jace Voss, guest of foundation. Ellis said Ellis Voss, his brother. Alvarez copied IDs, asked both stay put. Radioed dispatch, confirmed identities, said no one leaves property pending inquiry.
Marta led Alvarez down hall to security office. I followed, wrapped blanket around shoulders, kept distance from brothers. Ray met us halfway, out of breath, said board called him, asked what happened. Alvarez told him hold questions, preserve scene.
Security office small, monitors humming, cold air. Marta pulled log, said cameras cover north wing hallway and marble room entry. Alvarez asked show last thirty minutes. Guard pulled file, timestamp 19:42 to 19:58.
Footage played. Hallway camera first: 19:44:12 — two figures entered together, black leather jackets distinct, Jace shaved head gleaming under hall light, Ellis longer hair behind him. No one else with them. Door to marble room opened 19:44:31, both stepped in. No exit until Alvarez entered at 19:51. Second camera angled through doorway: showed same window, same marble floor, same warm light. At 19:45:03 Jace lunged forward, posture aggressive, mouth open — matched earlier audio window. At 19:47 my figure entered frame on floor, hands at collar. Ellis hands on shoulders from behind. Jace hand pulling pajama top. Footage silent but movements matched my account.
Alvarez paused, rewound, wrote timestamps. Said footage corroborates continuity, clothing unchanged throughout. Said timestamp matches 00:00-00:13 window I gave earlier. Guard copied file to two drives, labeled one for sheriff, one for House Lancaster legal. Marta watched his hands, said no erase, no overwrite.
Alvarez checked guest list on clipboard near desk. Found both names: Jace Voss and Ellis Voss, invited to foundation gala, listed under donor liaison. He held list up for me, asked recognize names. I nodded. Said never invited them to private wing.
Back in marble room, Alvarez faced brothers. Told them IDs logged, footage preserved, investigation open. Instructed both not to leave estate property, not to contact me, remain available for follow-up interview. Said violation would mean immediate detention. Jace rolled eyes, said we were just talking. Ellis said nothing, jaw tight, leather vest creaking as he crossed arms.
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Alvarez turned to me, said I could stay with Marta or move to main house with deputy outside door. I chose main house, blanket tight, feet cold on marble. Alvarez radioed second unit to sit on gate.
Door to marble room stayed open, window light still warm across floor, jackets still black and zipped, pajamas still light with blue piping — everything logged, everything still there.
