Chapter 5 - Maria's SecretMaria had worked in the mansion for three years.
She had always been quiet.
Reliable.
Almost invisible.
Mark found her in the kitchen.
She was staring out the window.
"Maria."
She turned.
Her face immediately revealed that she had been expecting this moment.
"What do you want to know?"
Mark froze.
"You know what happened to Eleanor."
Maria's eyes filled with tears.
"I should have told you years ago."
Lily stood beside her father.
Maria looked at the little girl.
"Your mother loved you more than anything."
"What happened that night?" Mark asked.
Maria sat down.
"I heard shouting."
"When?"
"The night before the accident."
Mark's stomach twisted.
"Between Eleanor and Victoria?"
Maria nodded.
"They argued in the library."
"What about?"
"The trust."
Mark's jaw clenched.
"What did Eleanor say?"
Maria lowered her voice.
"She told Victoria she had discovered the plan."
"What plan?"
"To take Lily's inheritance."
Mark stared.
Maria continued.
"Eleanor said she would expose everyone."
"Who was everyone?"
Maria shook her head.
"I never heard all the names."
"You heard enough."
Maria looked at Lily.
"I heard Victoria say one thing."
"What?"
"She said, 'Then you'll have to die before you can stop us.'"
Silence.
Mark stood perfectly still.
"Why didn't you tell the police?"
"I was afraid."
"Of Victoria?"
Maria shook her head.
"Not just her."
A man's footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Everyone turned.
Daniel entered.
"Mark, the police found Richard's abandoned car."
"Where?"
"Three miles from the property."
"Was he inside?"
"No."
Daniel held up an evidence bag.
Inside was a phone.
"His."
Mark's phone rang.
Again.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice said:
"If you question Maria, you'll never see Lily again."
Mark looked at his daughter.
She was right there.
The voice continued.
"Look toward the kitchen window."
Mark slowly turned.
Across the street, a black sedan was parked beneath a tree.
Someone was sitting inside.
Mark signaled the officer.
The officer ran outside.
The sedan sped away.
But not before someone threw something onto the lawn.
Mark retrieved it.
A photograph.
It showed Eleanor.
Standing beside a man Mark didn't recognize.
On the back was written:
THIS IS THE REAL REASON SHE DIED.
Mark stared at the man's face.
Then he realized he knew him.
It was the estate's former security chief.
A man everyone believed had died eight years ago.
Maria covered her mouth.
"No..."
Mark turned.
"Who is he?"
Maria whispered:
"Thomas."
Daniel stiffened.
"What about him?"
Maria's eyes were fixed on the photograph.
"Thomas wasn't the security chief."
Mark frowned.
"Then who was he?"
May you like
Maria looked at Lily.
"He was Eleanor's brother."
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