Chapter 10 - WHAT CAME FROM THE HELICOPTER
The leather restraint was not medical equipment.
It was part of an emergency securing kit recovered from Arthur Sterling’s helicopter wreckage.
Richard had handled it six years earlier while identifying personal effects.
Afterward, it had been stored in a locked archive at Sterling Manor.
Only three people had access.
Richard.
Eleanor.
Miles Crowe.
Clara stared at the evidence photograph.
“Why use that belt?”
Detective Reeves asked.
Richard answered.
“To send a message.”
“To whom?”
Richard looked at Clara.
“Me.”
He understood before anyone else.
The person who restrained Leo wanted Richard to recognize the object if investigators found it.
It connected Leo’s attempted killing to Arthur’s death.
A warning.
Or a confession.
That afternoon, police searched the estate archive.
The helicopter evidence box was empty.
Crowe had disappeared.
His phone had been turned off.
His house was vacant.
His accounts showed three large transfers within the previous week.
Eleanor remained under surveillance but had not been arrested.
Her attorneys claimed the fingerprints proved nothing.
Clara wanted to scream.
Money still moved faster than justice.
Then the story turned against her.
A gasoline container was found behind Clara’s staff cottage.
It matched the accelerant used to start the fire.
Reporters surrounded the hospital entrance.
HEAD HOUSEKEEPER QUESTIONED IN STERLING ARSON.
HERO OR SUSPECT?
Clara stared at the television.
“That wasn’t mine.”
Leo immediately answered.
“I know.”
Richard looked at her.
For one terrible second, Clara thought he might doubt her.
Then he stood and switched off the television.
“I know too.”
Clara was surprised.
Richard faced Detective Reeves.
“If Clara wanted Leo dead, she would not have run into a burning building.”
Reeves nodded.
“I agree.”
“Then why is somebody planting evidence?”
“Because they’re losing control.”
Clara looked through the hospital window.
Eleanor’s black Bentley sat across the street.
She was inside it.
Watching.
Clara stared back.
Her phone buzzed.
Another unknown message.
YOU HAVE ARTHUR'S LETTER.
STOP.
Clara typed a response.
NO.
The answer came almost immediately.
THEN THE NEXT FIRE WILL NOT HAVE AN EXIT.
Clara showed Reeves.
He began tracing the number.
Then Leo spoke.
“Clara?”
She turned.
“There’s something Dad told me before he died.”
Everyone became still.
Leo frowned as he searched the memory.
“I was little.”
“He said if people ever fought over the house, I should remember the blue boat.”
Richard looked confused.
“What blue boat?”
Leo shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Clara did.
A small wooden sailboat had once sat inside Arthur’s study.
It had disappeared after his death.
May you like
And only one person had packed Arthur’s belongings.
Eleanor.
