Chapter 4 - ARTHUR'S HIDDEN STAIRCASE
The door to Arthur’s study was locked.
Clara kicked it once.
Nothing.
Twice.
The wooden frame cracked.
On the third strike, it opened.
The room had remained nearly untouched for six years.
Leather chairs.
Mahogany desk.
A framed sailing photograph.
Arthur’s old fountain pens.
Smoke began gathering near the ceiling.
“Which shelf?”
Leo pointed.
“Behind the red books.”
Clara carried him across the room.
She pulled three volumes free.
Nothing.
“Leo.”
“I was five!”
He coughed.
“Dad pressed something.”
Clara ran her fingers across the wood.
Then she felt it.
A small brass button hidden beneath the shelf.
She pressed it.
A section of the bookcase released.
Behind it was a narrow stone staircase descending into darkness.
Clara almost laughed from relief.
“Your father was paranoid.”
Leo rested his forehead against her shoulder.
“Maybe he had a reason.”
That sentence stayed with her.
Clara carried him downward.
The hidden stairwell ended behind the old wine cellar.
From there, they reached a service corridor beneath the east terrace.
Fresh air struck Clara’s face.
She pushed through an exterior door.
People in the courtyard screamed when they saw them.
Two guards rushed forward.
Clara dropped to her knees.
Paramedics took Leo.
Someone placed oxygen over his mouth.
Eleanor hurried across the grass.
“Oh my God!”
Her performance was perfect.
She knelt beside Leo.
“Sweetheart!”
Leo recoiled.
Clara saw it.
So did one paramedic.
Eleanor reached toward him.
“Don’t touch me.”
The courtyard became strangely quiet.
Eleanor froze.
Leo pulled the oxygen mask aside.
“You locked me in there.”
Gasps moved through the crowd.
Eleanor stood.
“He’s confused.”
“No.”
Leo’s voice shook.
“You took my braces.”
“Leo.”
“You gave me too much medicine.”
“Stop.”
Clara rose.
“You restrained him.”
Eleanor turned.
“What?”
“I found the belt.”
“That is absurd.”
“I found the medicine bottle.”
Clara stepped closer.
“And I found gasoline.”
Miles Crowe appeared behind Eleanor.
“Ms. Hayes, I strongly suggest you stop making accusations while you are clearly suffering from smoke exposure.”
Clara looked at him.
“Leo says you took his chair.”
Crowe’s expression barely changed.
“A frightened child says many things.”
Leo began shaking with anger.
“I am not lying!”
Clara moved beside him.
“No, you’re not.”
Sirens approached from the front drive.
Firefighters flooded the grounds.
Then one of the paramedics called Clara.
“Ms. Hayes?”
She turned.
The medic held Leo’s empty medicine vial.
“We need to know his prescribed dosage.”
“One tablet.”
The paramedic stared at her.
“According to the boy, he took three.”
Clara nodded.
The medic’s face became serious.
“We need to transport him immediately.”
Eleanor stepped forward.
“I’ll go with him.”
Leo grabbed Clara’s hand.
“No.”
Everyone looked down.
Leo tightened his fingers around hers.
May you like
“I want Clara.”
And for the first time in eleven years, the Sterling family had to watch Leo choose someone who had never treated him like a burden.
