Chapter 11 - The First Trap
Arthur opened a narrow maintenance door.
“Go.”
Thomas led Clara into the hedge maze behind the greenhouse.
Arthur remained.
“Come with us,” Clara whispered.
“I’ll slow them down.”
The greenhouse door opened.
Vanessa entered.
Clara and Thomas disappeared into the darkness.
Thomas guided her through a service gate.
Margaret waited near the kitchen.
She quietly returned Clara to the ballroom.
Three minutes later Daniel found her.
“Where were you?”
“Bathroom.”
Daniel stared at her shoes.
Mud covered the soles.
He looked toward the garden.
Clara smiled nervously.
Daniel said nothing.
The next morning Arthur was arrested.
Police arrived at his apartment with a search warrant.
Inside they found Evelyn’s jewelry.
Financial records.
And several forged letters.
Daniel claimed Arthur had stolen them after Evelyn disappeared.
Clara watched the arrest report on television.
Vanessa stood behind her.
“Sometimes people we trust disappoint us.”
Clara turned.
“You planted it.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Careful.”
Arthur was taken into custody.
But Daniel’s victory lasted only six hours.
That afternoon, an attorney named Rebecca Sloan arrived at the estate.
She represented Arthur.
And she carried a sealed document signed by Evelyn Whitmore three years earlier.
It stated that if Arthur were ever accused of stealing from Evelyn, a complete inventory of her property was to be opened by an independent trustee.
Daniel’s face changed.
“What inventory?”
Rebecca smiled politely.
“The one your wife filed before her disappearance.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Evelyn never mentioned an inventory.”
Rebecca looked at her.
“She apparently didn’t trust everyone around her.”
Daniel ordered Rebecca off the property.
Before leaving, Rebecca looked at Clara.
Only once.
But Clara recognized the signal.
Three fingers against her purse.
317.
That night, Vanessa argued with Daniel in the study.
Clara listened through the servant passage.
“You should have handled Arthur years ago,” Vanessa said.
Daniel snapped, “I did.”
“No, you threatened him.”
“And you were supposed to find Evelyn’s backup records.”
“I searched everything.”
“Apparently not.”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“What if Evelyn gave him the original trust ledger?”
Daniel said something that terrified Clara.
“Then Arthur never reaches trial.”
Vanessa went silent.
“You’re not serious.”
Daniel replied, “I’m done leaving loose ends.”
Clara backed away.
A floorboard creaked.
Inside the study, Daniel stopped talking.
The hidden passage door suddenly opened.
May you like
Daniel reached inside.
And grabbed Clara by the arm.
