Chapter 5 - The Police and the Panic
Within fifteen minutes, the flashing red and blue lights of police cruisers illuminated the elegant facade of Le Miroir, casting eerie crimson shadows across the imported white orchids in the front windows.
The restaurant had long since cleared out; the patrons had fled like rats from a sinking ship, whispering excitedly into their phones as they posted hurried accounts of the billionaire chef’s domestic nightmare onto social media.
Valerie sat at one of the private corner tables, the heavy linen tablecloth clutched tightly in her trembling fingers. Across from her sat Leo, wrapped in a warm cashmere tablecloth provided by the horrified maître d', eating a steaming bowl of artisanal potato leek soup and a fresh brioche roll. He ate with ravenous hunger, his bruised knuckles occasionally trembling against the spoon.
Thomas sat right beside Leo, resting his head against Leo’s shoulder. The hostility and fear that had defined Thomas’s posture earlier had softened into a quiet, exhausted relief.
Detective Sarah Vance—no relation, a sharp-eyed woman with a trench coat and a notebook—walked over from the foyer, where Daniel was currently being handcuffed and read his Miranda rights before being shoved into the back of a squad car.
The detective slid into the booth opposite Valerie, flipping open her notepad.
"Mrs. Vance?" the detective asked softly.
Valerie raised her bloodshot eyes. "Is he gone?"
"He's on his way to the precinct. Based on the preliminary medical examination of your son, coupled with the physical evidence and witness testimony from the boy here... Mr. Vance won't be seeing daylight for a very long time. Child endangerment, aggravated assault, and domestic abuse charges are locked in."
Valerie nodded slowly, feeling an eerie sense of numbness wash over her. "What about Leo?"
Detective Vance glanced at the twelve-year-old boy. "Child Protective Services has been notified. Given the circumstances, and the fact that Leo saved your son from severe long-term trauma, our department is going to expedite emergency guardianship placement if you’re willing, Mrs. Vance. Otherwise, he goes into the state system."
Valerie didn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second. She reached across the table, placing her hand gently over Leo’s raw, bruised knuckles.
"He’s not going into the system," Valerie said, her voice steady and absolute. "Leo stays with us. That is, if he’ll have us."
May you like
Leo looked up from his soup bowl, his wide eyes blinking rapidly as tears welled up once more. He looked at Thomas, who smiled softly and nodded. Leo looked back at Valerie, and for the first time all evening, a tentative, genuine smile broke through his bruised face.
"I'd like that," Leo whispered.
