Chapter 3 - A Child’s Logic
From behind the grand pillar near the entrance, a small six-year-old girl stepped out into the light.
She wore a faded yellow dress and held a plastic teacup filled with tap water.
Her small socks had holes at the heels.
She didn't look at the woman in the red dress, nor did she look at the grand chandelier above.
She walked straight toward Elena, her tiny rubber soles squeaking against the wet marble.
"Mommy," the little girl whispered, her voice tiny in the vast room.
She held out the plastic teacup with both hands, her knuckles pale.
"The water is clean," the girl said softly. "It doesn't smell like the bad soap."
Elena’s shoulders trembled violently.
She reached out with a soap-covered hand, but pulled it back, afraid to stain her daughter’s skin.
The little girl looked at Julian’s shiny leather shoes, then up at his tight jaw.
"Why is the lady wearing paint on her mouth?" the child asked, her eyes round and clear.
"Does it stop her from saying nice things?"
The woman in red stiffened, her smile freezing into a jagged line.
Julian looked down at the little girl’s worn socks.
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His hand reached into his inner suit pocket and pulled out a black smartphone.
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