Arthur stood firmly in the center of the spacious room with his hands clenched.
The silence between the three adults felt heavy and extremely uncomfortable.
Elena rocked the tiny baby back and forth while standing near the window.
Lily pressed her small face against Elena's shoulder and slowly closed her eyes.
Victoria: The maid is overstepping her boundaries!
Elena: I was only trying to comfort her, sir.
Arthur stepped closer to his wife and looked deeply into her eyes.
He had married Victoria six months ago after his first wife passed away.
He thought Victoria would be a caring mother to his newborn daughter Lily.
But lately he had noticed strange things around the big empty house.
Victoria always seemed distant whenever the baby started to cry or sleep.
She preferred going shopping or attending charity galas with her wealthy friends.
Arthur: Why was Lily crying so loudly, Victoria?
Victoria: Babies cry all the time, Arthur!
Victoria: She was just being fussy and annoying!
Elena lowered her head slightly because she knew the terrible real truth.
She had seen Victoria ignore the baby for hours earlier that morning.
Elena wanted to speak up, but she feared losing her important job.
She needed the monthly paycheck to support her sick mother back home.
If she lost this job, she would face immediate financial foreclosure on her house.
Arthur: Elena, please tell me what you saw when you entered.
Victoria: Don't you dare answer him, Elena!
Victoria glared directly at the humble housekeeper with a cold sharp threat.
Arthur: Speak freely, Elena.
Elena: The baby was crying alone on the couch, sir.
Elena: Victoria was sitting right there holding her solid plastic object.
Elena: She was not reaching out to hold or calm her at all.
Victoria gasped loudly and threw her hands up in utter dramatic disbelief.
Victoria: She is lying to you, Arthur!
Victoria: She wants to make me look bad so you fire me!
Arthur raised his hand to stop his loud wife from yelling any further.
He looked down at the black plastic object laying on the floor.
It was an electronic noise machine set to a high harsh static sound.
Victoria had been using it to keep the baby from sleeping soundly.
Arthur bent down and picked up the small plastic device from the floor.
He examined the settings and felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
Arthur: Why was this turned on right next to her head?