Chapter 11 - THE TRAP
Emergency lights illuminated the club room.
Smoke began entering through the ventilation system.
Mark tried the door.
The electronic lock had engaged from outside.
Detective Bennett called for assistance.
Her phone had no signal.
Daniel wrapped a curtain around his hand and struck the nearest window.
The glass did not break.
It was reinforced.
Eleanor searched the safe.
Richard had designed the room for confidential meetings.
There had to be another exit.
She remembered his habits.
He distrusted rooms with only one door.
Behind the bookcase, Daniel found a narrow service passage.
Mark forced the panel open.
They entered the corridor as smoke filled the room behind them.
At the end of the passage, a maintenance door opened into the club kitchen.
Fire alarms sounded moments later.
The smoke had come from a machine, not a real fire.
Someone wanted to frighten them.
Or delay them.
While they escaped the club, thieves entered the Whitmore mansion.
The security system was disabled using an executive override code.
The intruders went directly to Eleanor’s private study.
They ignored jewelry, artwork, and cash.
They stole Richard’s old desk.
The entire desk.
Its drawers were locked.
Eleanor had kept it untouched since her husband’s death.
She never knew why anyone would want it.
Mark reviewed the mansion footage.
The intruders wore masks.
One walked with a slight limp.
Walter Kane had used a cane since a skiing accident.
Daniel called him.
Walter answered from his country home.
He sounded offended by the accusation.
“I loved your father.”
“You introduced me to Vanessa.”
“I introduced you to hundreds of people.”
“You encouraged me to marry her.”
“Because you appeared happy.”
Daniel played Richard’s recording.
Walter remained silent for several seconds.
Then he said, “Your mother is poisoning you against everyone.”
The same words Vanessa had used.
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Where is the desk, Walter?”
“I have no idea.”
“Then explain why your executive code disabled my security system.”
Walter ended the call.
Police arrived at his country home forty minutes later.
He was gone.
In his study, they found photographs of Vanessa from twelve years earlier.
She was standing beside Walter.
May you like
She could not have been more than sixteen.
On the back, Walter had written, “My daughter will finish what Richard began.”
