Chapter 4 - The Voice Behind the DoorDaniel slammed his shoulder against the conservatory door.
Nothing.
He tried again.
The old wood held.
“Help!”
No response.
Victor grabbed a heavy brass candlestick.
“Move.”
Together, they struck the lock.
Once.
Twice.
On the third blow, the door cracked open.
Daniel pulled Sophie into the hallway.
Nobody was there.
Then the lights went out.
Complete darkness swallowed the mansion.
Sophie screamed.
Victor whispered, “Stay together.”
A phone flashlight appeared.
Mara stood at the end of the corridor.
She looked pale.
“I didn't lock you in.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Mara's eyes dropped to the ledger.
“You found it.”
“You tried to frame my daughter.”
Mara flinched.
“I never wanted to hurt her.”
“You assaulted her.”
“I was desperate.”
“For what?”
Mara looked around.
“The cameras.”
Daniel followed her gaze.
“They've been cut.”
Mara shook her head.
“Not all of them.”
Victor went still.
“What did you do?”
Mara looked directly at him.
“You know.”
Daniel's suspicion deepened.
“What does she know?”
Victor said nothing.
Mara stepped closer.
“The trust wasn't stolen by one person.”
Daniel tightened his grip on the ledger.
“Then who?”
Mara whispered,
“Everyone who signed the papers.”
A sudden crash came from downstairs.
Then another.
Something heavy hitting the floor.
Mara closed her eyes.
“They're here.”
“Who?”
She didn't answer.
Daniel pulled Sophie behind him.
Footsteps echoed from the foyer.
Several people.
Slow.
Controlled.
Victor whispered, “We can't stay.”
They moved toward the service staircase.
As they descended, Daniel heard someone downstairs speaking.
“Find the ledger.”
Another voice replied.
“What about the child?”
A pause.
“Take her too.”
Daniel stopped.
Sophie squeezed his hand.
They hid behind a storage wall.
Two men passed.
Neither wore masks.
Daniel recognized one.
Richard Bell.
The family accountant.
The other man was unfamiliar.
But Victor recognized him instantly.
“Thomas.”
Daniel's heart hammered.
Thomas Wren turned toward the staircase.
For one terrible second, Daniel thought he'd been seen.
Then Mara stepped into the corridor.
“Thomas.”
He smiled.
“You always were loyal.”
Mara's face hardened.
“You promised nobody would touch her.”
Thomas laughed.
“You should've read the agreement.”
Daniel's eyes widened.
Agreement?
Mara had been working with him.
At least partly.
Thomas continued.
“The child is the only problem.”
Mara whispered, “She doesn't know anything.”
“She knows enough.”
“And the camera?”
Thomas's expression darkened.
“That's already being handled.”
Daniel's stomach dropped.
The security footage.
They were coming for the recordings.
Suddenly Mara looked directly toward Daniel's hiding place.
Her eyes met his.
She said nothing.
Then she turned to Thomas.
“Take the basement.”
Thomas left.
Richard followed.
Mara remained in the hallway.
Daniel slowly emerged.
“You saw us.”
Mara nodded.
“I did.”
“Why didn't you tell them?”
“Because I've been trying to undo what I helped start.”
Daniel raised the ledger.
“You don't get to call this an accident.”
“I don't.”
“Then tell me everything.”
Mara looked at Sophie.
Then at the stairs.
Then back at Daniel.
“I signed one document.”
“What document?”
“The transfer that started it all.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Why?”
Mara's voice trembled.
“Because Thomas showed me a video.”
“What video?”
Mara looked toward the dark ceiling.
“A video of your mother.”
She swallowed.
“Alive.”
Daniel froze.
His mother had died two weeks earlier.
Or so everyone believed.
May you like
Mara whispered,
“And the video was recorded three days after her funeral.”
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