Chapter 12 - THE BOTTLE THAT DISAPPEAREDThe archive room erupted into silence.
Graham stared at Sloane.
"You never told the police."
"I was scared."
"You let me think my wife died naturally."
"I thought I would be blamed."
"Maybe you should have told me."
"I know."
Daniel stepped between them.
"Where did you see the bottle?"
Sloane wiped her face.
"In the kitchen."
"What kind?"
"White prescription bottle."
"Name?"
"I don't remember."
"Look again."
Sloane closed her eyes.
"Something for anxiety."
Daniel's expression changed.
"Claire wasn't taking anxiety medication."
Graham stared.
"She wasn't?"
"No."
Claire had never mentioned medication.
Daniel pointed to the archive.
"Then someone gave her something."
Graham looked at Sloane.
"Who had access?"
"Marcus."
"Eleanor."
"Me."
"Anyone else?"
Sloane swallowed.
"The housekeeper."
"What housekeeper?"
"Marian."
Graham's eyes narrowed.
"She quit six months ago."
"She didn't quit."
"What?"
"Marcus fired her."
"Why?"
"She found something."
Graham felt the familiar coldness return.
"What?"
"The surveillance cameras."
Daniel looked at him.
"She knew the house was monitored."
"Where is she now?"
Sloane whispered:
"In hiding."
"Find her."
Daniel made the call.
Forty minutes later, Marian arrived at a secure location.
She looked terrified.
Graham sat across from her.
"Tell me what you found."
Marian took a breath.
"Mrs. Grant had been watching Ms. Mercer."
"Sloane?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She believed Ms. Mercer was involved."
Graham looked toward Sloane.
Marian continued.
"But later Mrs. Grant realized Sloane was not working with Marcus."
"Then why keep watching her?"
"To see who was meeting her."
"Who?"
Marian hesitated.
"Eleanor."
Graham froze.
"My mother."
Marian nodded.
"They met in the house."
"When?"
"The night before Mrs. Grant died."
"What did they discuss?"
Marian looked down.
"The child."
Graham's jaw tightened.
"What child?"
"Maisie."
"What about her?"
Marian whispered:
"Mrs. Grant said she knew Eleanor was planning to take her."
Graham asked:
"Why?"
"Because of the company shares."
Marian continued.
"Mrs. Grant had moved one block of voting shares into Maisie's trust."
"How much?"
"Enough to stop Eleanor from reclaiming the company."
Graham understood.
His daughter was not just an inheritance beneficiary.
She was the legal lock on the empire.
Marian reached into her purse.
She took out a small envelope.
"Mrs. Grant gave me this."
Graham opened it.
Inside was a memory card.
A note was attached.
FOR GRAHAM. PLAY ONLY WHEN YOU KNOW WHO TO TRUST.
Daniel connected it to a laptop.
Video appeared.
Claire was sitting in the kitchen.
Sloane was across from her.
Graham had never seen the footage.
Claire spoke first.
"Did Marcus tell you why he chose you?"
Sloane nodded.
"He said Graham trusts me."
"That's not why."
"Then why?"
"Because Eleanor needs access to the trust."
Sloane's eyes filled.
"I'm not doing this."
Claire leaned forward.
"You already did."
Sloane looked confused.
"What?"
"You signed the first petition."
"I didn't know what it was."
"I know."
Claire's voice softened.
"That's why I'm giving you a choice."
"Which is?"
"Help me expose them."
Sloane stared.
"What do I have to do?"
Claire handed her a document.
"Marry Graham."
Graham stared at the screen.
Sloane gasped.
"No."
The video continued.
Claire said:
"Stay close to them."
"For how long?"
"Until I have enough evidence."
"And if you die?"
Claire stared directly into the camera.
"Then protect my daughter."
The video ended.
Graham looked at Sloane.
"You were helping Claire."
"Yes."
"Then why did you continue after she died?"
"Because Marcus found out."
"What did he do?"
Sloane looked at him.
"He threatened my brother."
Graham's face changed.
"That's why he disappeared."
Sloane nodded.
"I stayed because he said he'd kill him."
"What happened?"
Sloane whispered:
"He was already dead."
Silence.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed immediately.
"What?"
He listened.
Then looked at Graham.
"The judge signed the final guardianship order."
"When?"
"Ten minutes ago."
Graham's heart sank.
"Who has Maisie now?"
Daniel's answer was barely audible.
"Eleanor Grant."
Sloane stared at the floor.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message.
FROM MARCUS BELL.
You have one hour.
Bring Graham to the old train station.
May you like
Come alone.
Or Maisie learns what happened to her mother.
