Chapter 3 - The Missing Three Minutes

By Monday morning, the story had escaped the competition hall.

Poppy discovered that before breakfast.

Her phone showed thirty-two unread messages, most from dancers she barely knew. A parent had posted that “serious misconduct” had taken place at the regional final. Someone else had written that the first-place winner might be stripped of her award. No names appeared in the first post.

Names appeared in the comments.

Poppy turned the phone facedown.

Elena set toast in front of her.

“Don’t read it.”

“I already did.”

“Then stop now.”

“That advice would have been more useful five minutes ago.”

Elena poured tea and sat opposite her.

The damaged costume hung from the back of a chair inside its protective cover. Miss Keller had returned it after photographing every seam. Elena had not repaired it.

Poppy had asked why.

Her mother had said, “Because I’m not ready to make it look as if nothing happened.”

Now Elena rubbed a thumb against the rim of her mug.

“The competition committee emailed.”

Poppy looked up.

“What did they say?”

“They want permission to speak to you again on Wednesday. Video call.”

“About what?”

“They didn’t say.”

Poppy sighed.

“I thought we already told them everything.”

“Apparently not.”

Poppy reached for the toast but did not eat.

“Are you going to work?”

“In an hour.”

“You slept about four hours.”

“So did you.”

“I’m seventeen.”

“That is not a medical qualification.”

Poppy smiled despite herself.

Elena watched her carefully.

“You don’t have to go to school today.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You’re allowed one day.”

“If I stay home, everyone will think something worse happened.”

“Something bad did happen.”

“I know.”

Elena’s expression softened.

Poppy looked at the costume again.

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

“If they give me the scholarship because Sienna loses it, people will say I only got it because of this.”

Elena was quiet.

“Some people will.”

“That doesn’t bother you?”

“It bothers me that you think there is a version of your life where nobody says something unfair.”

Poppy looked away.

Elena continued.

“You danced your final in someone else’s costume twenty minutes after finding yours cut open.”

“I came second.”

“You came second on the judges’ scores.”

“That is usually how second place works.”

“And if the committee decides the event was interfered with, they will decide what happens next.”

Poppy traced a crack in the tabletop.

“I don’t want Sienna punished for her mother.”

“Neither do I.”

“But if Celeste did it—”

“Then Celeste needs consequences.”

“And if the rules say Sienna loses the scholarship?”

Elena’s face tightened.

“Then that is something the committee will have to answer for.”

Poppy finally took a bite.

At school, the story followed her through every corridor.

Her closest friend, Maya, waited beside her locker.

“I am not going to ask if it’s true.”

“Thank you.”

“I am going to ask whether you want me to accidentally spill orange juice on anyone who asks.”

“That’s generous.”

“I’m loyal.”

“You’re violent.”

“Only with beverages.”

Poppy closed her locker.

A group of younger students glanced at her.

Maya noticed.

“See?”

“No orange juice.”

“Water?”

“No.”

At lunch, Poppy received a message from Sienna.

Can we talk?

Poppy typed back.

After rehearsal?

Sienna replied almost immediately.

I’m not going to rehearsal.

Poppy stared at the screen.

Why?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Finally:

Mom withdrew me from the studio this morning.

Poppy stopped walking.

Maya nearly collided with her.

“What?”

Poppy showed her the message.

“Can parents do that?”

“Apparently.”

Poppy called Sienna.

No answer.

She tried again.

This time Sienna picked up.

“Hi.”

Her voice sounded small.

“What happened?”

“My mother says Miss Keller created a hostile environment.”

“Miss Keller isn’t even your main teacher.”

“She says the studio failed to protect my reputation.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means she’s angry.”

“Where are you?”

“At home.”

“Is your dad there?”

“No.”

“Can I come over?”

Silence.

Then Sienna said, “My mother would hate that.”

“That wasn’t the question.”

Another silence.

“Yes.”

Poppy told Elena before she left school.

Her mother’s first answer was no.

Her second answer was also no.

Her third included the phrase “absolutely not alone.”

So at four-thirty, Elena drove Poppy to Sienna’s house and waited in the car at the end of the drive.

Celeste opened the front door.

She did not look surprised.

“No.”

Poppy had not spoken yet.

“I’m here to see Sienna.”

“No.”

“She said I could.”

“My daughter is not in a position to make good decisions right now.”

Poppy heard footsteps behind her.

Sienna appeared at the top of the stairs.

“Yes, I am.”

Celeste turned.

“Go back upstairs.”

“No.”

Poppy stayed on the step.

She had never seen Sienna disobey her mother so plainly.

Celeste noticed Elena’s car.

“Did your mother send you here?”

“No.”

“Of course she did.”

“Elena is waiting because she didn’t want me coming alone.”

“Very sensible.”

Sienna descended the stairs.

“I asked Poppy to come.”

“No, you asked to talk. That is not the same thing.”

“It is if I invite her.”

Celeste stared at her daughter.

Poppy almost stepped backward.

Then Richard entered from the kitchen.

“Let her in.”

Celeste spun around.

“You said you were at work.”

“I came home early.”

“Why?”

“Because the solicitor called me.”

The temperature in the hall changed.

Celeste looked at Poppy.

“This is a family matter.”

Richard’s voice was tired.

“It stopped being only a family matter when another child’s costume was cut.”

Poppy wished he had not said child.

She also wished the floor would open.

Sienna stepped beside her.

“She can come to my room.”

Celeste’s mouth tightened.

“Door open.”

“Fine.”

Upstairs, Sienna’s room looked nothing like Poppy expected.

No trophy shelves.

No framed competition photographs.

There were books, a desk, a record player, and a corkboard filled with ticket stubs and small drawings. Dance shoes sat in a basket by the wardrobe.

Poppy glanced around.

“Where are all your trophies?”

“In boxes.”

“All of them?”

“Most.”

“Why?”

Sienna sat on the edge of her bed.

“My mother likes them downstairs.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“I don’t like sleeping in a room full of things that tell me what I have to keep being.”

Poppy sat beside her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Poppy said, “Why did she withdraw you?”

“She says the studio is taking your side.”

“Miss Keller reported sabotage.”

“My mother says that proves bias.”

“Does your mother think everything that goes against her is bias?”

Sienna gave her a tired look.

“Yes.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It is.”

Poppy lowered her voice.

“What did your dad’s solicitor say?”

Sienna picked at a loose thread on her sleeve.

“The competition can investigate. They can suspend the scholarship. They can also refer the damage to the venue or police if they think it was deliberate.”

Poppy blinked.

“Police?”

“It’s property damage. Maybe more if they think it was meant to make you fall.”

Poppy had not let herself think about that.

The cut had been placed where the costume would split when she lifted her arm. If she had not noticed before going onstage, the fabric could have opened during the routine. Embarrassment was one possibility.

A fall was another.

Sienna watched her face.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that.”

“I know.”

“Did the solicitor say anything else?”

Sienna nodded.

“There’s another camera.”

Poppy sat straighter.

“What?”

“The competition committee told our solicitor they’re trying to obtain footage from a service corridor.”

“Where?”

“Behind the dressing rooms.”

“Does it show inside?”

“No. But there’s a back door staff use.”

Poppy’s heart quickened.

“Your mother used that door?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then why does it matter?”

“Because the front corridor footage only shows her going into the hallway. If she left through the back, it might explain where she was during those three minutes.”

Poppy stood.

“Sienna.”

“I know.”

“Why didn’t they have this footage already?”

“The camera belongs to the venue, not the competition. Apparently the system is handled by a security company.”

Poppy paced once across the room.

“If it shows her—”

“It still won’t show what happened inside.”

“No, but it might show the scissors.”

Sienna stared at her.

Poppy stopped.

“What?”

“My mother’s coat.”

“What about it?”

“She wasn’t wearing it when she came back into the auditorium.”

Poppy frowned.

“So?”

“She went into the changing-room hallway wearing a long beige coat. I remember because she told me I should have brought mine.”

“And?”

“When she came to the room after your costume was found, she didn’t have it.”

“Where was it?”

“I don’t know.”

Poppy’s skin prickled.

“Could she have left it somewhere?”

“Yes.”

“Could the scissors have been in the pocket?”

“Yes.”

Neither girl spoke.

Downstairs, voices rose.

Richard and Celeste.

“You told me you were in there for less than a minute.”

“I don’t know how long I was there.”

“You said you never went into the room.”

“I said I didn’t touch the costume.”

“That is not what I asked.”

Sienna stood.

Poppy caught her wrist.

“Don’t.”

“I need to hear.”

“You already know they’re arguing.”

“I need to know what she says.”

They moved into the hallway.

Celeste’s voice came from below.

“I went inside because I saw the bag.”

Richard said, “What bag?”

“Sienna’s.”

Sienna closed her eyes.

Poppy whispered, “Your bag was in the other room.”

“I know.”

Richard said it next.

“Sienna’s garment case was in Studio A. I saw her bring it in.”

A pause.

Then Celeste answered.

“I was confused.”

“You have spent eleven years tracking every shoe, ribbon, hairpin and costume she owns, and now you were confused?”

“Do not speak to me like I’m on trial.”

“I’m speaking to you like my wife is telling me three different stories.”

Sienna stepped down one stair.

Her mother saw her.

Celeste’s face froze.

“How long have you been standing there?”

Sienna did not answer.

Richard rubbed his forehead.

“Sienna, go upstairs.”

“No.”

“Sienna.”

“Did you go into the changing room?”

Celeste looked at Poppy behind her.

“This is exactly why she should not be here.”

Sienna descended another step.

“Did you?”

Celeste’s voice softened.

“I went in for a few seconds.”

Poppy felt Sienna’s hand find the banister.

“Why?”

“I was looking for your things.”

“My things weren’t there.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Did you touch Poppy’s costume?”

“No.”

“Did you take your coat off?”

Celeste frowned.

“What?”

“Your beige coat. Where did you leave it?”

Celeste stared at her daughter.

Then she looked toward Richard.

He understood the question too.

“Celeste?”

She sat down on the hall bench.

“I spilled coffee on it.”

“When?” Richard asked.

“Before the final.”

“Where is it now?”

“At the cleaner.”

Sienna’s voice became very quiet.

“Which cleaner?”

Celeste looked up.

“Why?”

“Because you never use dry cleaning without asking me to take it in with my costumes.”

“I took it myself.”

“Which one?”

Celeste stood again.

“This is absurd.”

Richard walked toward the coat cupboard.

He opened it.

The beige coat was hanging inside.

No one moved.

Celeste’s face emptied.

Richard reached for it.

“Don’t,” she said.

He stopped.

Poppy could hear her own breathing.

Sienna whispered, “You said it was at the cleaner.”

Celeste closed her eyes.

For the first time since the competition, she looked less angry than afraid.

Richard carefully lifted the coat from the hanger.

One pocket bulged.

He put his hand inside.

When he pulled it out, he was holding a small roll of silver-blue thread.

Poppy recognized it immediately.

Her mother had used the same thread to finish the decorative edge of her costume.

Sienna made a sound that was not quite a word.

Celeste sat down.

Richard looked from the thread to his wife.

“What is this?”

Celeste did not answer.

Poppy did.

“It’s from my costume.”

Celeste raised her head.

“No.”

Poppy stepped closer.

“My mother bought that exact thread because the original shade was discontinued. She ordered it online.”

“You cannot know that piece came from your dress.”

“No,” Poppy said. “I can’t.”

She looked at Sienna.

“But now somebody can check.”

Sienna stared at her mother.

“Tell me you didn’t do it.”

Celeste’s lips parted.

Nothing came out.

Sienna’s voice broke.

“Please.”

Celeste whispered, “I was trying to protect your future.”

Poppy felt the room tilt.

Richard sat heavily on the bottom stair.

Sienna did not cry.

That made it worse.

She looked at her mother as if she had finally reached the answer she had spent two days trying not to find.

“You cut it.”

May you like

[COMPLETED] She waited ten years for her fiancé, but the night she marri...

[COMPLETED] Five Years After My Mafia Husband Chose Another Woman, He Me...

[COMPLETED] I CALLED MY HUSBAND 18 TIMES WHILE OUR SON WAS DYING. EIGHT...

Celeste covered her face.

No one needed the camera anymore.