The bright summer sun warmed the wide white balcony of the grand estate.
A giant American flag hung still against the stone wall on this quiet afternoon.
Young Leo stepped out onto the polished white tiles to look at the pool below.
He wore his favorite blue polo shirt and smiled at the sparkling blue water.
His new stepmother Victoria walked quietly out through the glass patio doors behind him.
She wore a bright white lace dress that looked spotless in the bright daylight.
Victoria: Why are you standing so close to the railing today?
Leo: I was just watching the tiny fish swim near the edge.
Victoria: You know you are not allowed out here all by yourself.
Leo: My dad said I could wait for him on the back porch.
Victoria glared down at the young boy with cold anger hidden behind her smile.
She had married the rich businessman Richard only six short months ago.
She wanted the huge inheritance and the entire family fortune for herself.
The young boy was the only obstacle sitting in the middle of her plans.
She took two slow steps forward until her shadow covered the little boy completely.
Victoria: Your father is not here to save you right now.
Leo: What do you mean by that, Victoria?
Victoria: Get out of my sight right now!
Victoria raised both of her hands and gave the young boy a hard shove.
Leo lost his balance and gasped as he tumbled over the cold stone railing.
He fell straight down through the clear air toward the deep swimming pool below.
Victoria stood at the edge of the balcony and watched him fall with cold eyes.
She adjusted her crisp white dress and turned around without feeling any regret.
A loud splash echoed across the sunlit yard as Leo hit the cold blue water.
The heavy water swallowed the young boy instantly beneath the bright blue surface.
Leo struggled to kick his small feet as he sank down toward the dark bottom.
He had never learned how to swim without his father holding his small waist.
Up on the third floor balcony, Victoria smiled to herself and walked back inside.
She believed that nobody had seen what she had just done on the balcony.
She did not notice the small black security camera mounted high on the wall.