CHAPTER 4 The Body Behind the Locked Door

The scream came from the east hallway.

For one frozen second, nobody moved.

Then the police officers rushed out.

Daniel Harrington followed.

Emma stood still.

Her heart was pounding.

Because she already knew.

Whatever was happening inside the Harrington family was much bigger than a funeral.

Much darker than a simple murder.

She slowly followed Daniel.

The hallway outside was crowded.

Several officers stood near an old storage room at the end of the corridor.

A detective blocked the entrance.

"Nobody goes inside."

Daniel pushed through.

"What happened?"

The detective looked at him.

"You need to prepare yourself."

Daniel's expression hardened.

"Who is it?"

The detective hesitated.

Then stepped aside.

Daniel looked inside.

And stopped.

The room was small.

Old furniture.

Dusty boxes.

A single broken lamp.

And lying on the floor...

Was Michael Reed.

Richard Harrington's personal attorney.

The man who had managed the family's legal affairs for twenty years.

His eyes were closed.

A small wound was visible near his temple.

But what shocked Daniel wasn't the body.

It was what was written on the wall behind him.

Three words.

Written in red.

THE TRUTH BURNS.

Emma covered her mouth.

"No..."

Daniel looked at her.

"You know something?"

She shook her head.

"No."

But Daniel noticed.

She was lying.

"You recognized that message."

Emma looked away.

"Not the message."

"Then what?"

"The handwriting."

Everyone turned.

The detective stepped closer.

"You know who wrote it?"

Emma swallowed.

"Yes."

"Who?"

Her voice became barely audible.

"Richard Harrington."

Silence.

The detective frowned.

"You're saying the dead man wrote a message after his death?"

"No."

Emma looked at the words.

"He wrote something similar before."

Daniel stepped closer.

"Where?"

"In his office."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Emma looked at him.

"Because I didn't understand it."

Daniel stared.

"What did he write?"

Emma hesitated.

Then said:

"Three words."

The room became silent.

"What words?"

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Emma answered:

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