Chapter 2 - The Safe Beneath the Library
The gold chain around Chloe’s neck held a tiny key.
Carter stared at it.
“You told me that was your grandmother’s.”
“It was.”
“Then why does it open my father’s safe?”
Chloe said nothing.
Carter held out his hand.
“Give it to me.”
She didn't move.
“Chloe.”
Slowly, she removed the chain.
But instead of placing it in Carter’s hand, she dropped it.
The key struck the marble floor.
Carter picked it up.
He returned to the concealed panel.
The key fit perfectly.
The lock opened.
Inside was a narrow metal compartment.
There were no diamonds.
No money.
No passports.
Only a thick black folder and an old envelope.
Carter reached for the folder.
Chloe suddenly whispered, “Don't.”
He stopped.
“Why?”
“You don't know what you're opening.”
“That's becoming a familiar sentence.”
He opened it.
The first page contained his father's signature.
Beneath it was a list of company assets.
Carter's eyes moved down the page.
Then stopped.
A property transfer.
His family's refinery shares.
His father's private investments.
Several offshore accounts.
And beside them was one name.
Chloe Hayes.
Carter looked at his wife.
“You were supposed to inherit none of this.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you listed here?”
“I don't know.”
Carter flipped the page.
Another document.
Then another.
Each one appeared to have been prepared years ago.
But the dates were impossible.
Some had been signed after his father died.
Carter stared.
“These signatures are fake.”
Chloe's face went pale.
Maya stepped closer.
“What does it mean?”
Carter didn't answer.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter from his father.
Carter recognized the handwriting immediately.
His hands began to shake.
The letter contained only a few lines.
Carter,
If you are reading this, someone has tried to take control of the family assets.
Do not trust anyone who tells you the documents are complete.
There is another record.
Find the person who knows what happened during the first ninety days.
Carter read the last line twice.
The first ninety days.
He looked at the security archive.
112 days.
Someone had been recording the house for almost four months.
Why ninety days?
Why had his father mentioned it?
And who was the person who knew?
Carter looked at Chloe.
“Who is he?”
She shook her head.
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because if I tell you, they'll come back.”
The room went silent.
Carter slowly lowered the letter.
“They?”
Chloe looked toward the hallway.
Then whispered one sentence.
“You think I was the one controlling this house.”
She looked at Eleanor.
“You have no idea who was giving me orders.”
Before Carter could answer, the lights suddenly went out.
Maya screamed.
A crash came from upstairs.
Carter immediately looked toward the staircase.
Then another sound.
A door slamming.
Carter grabbed his phone.
The security archive was still open.
One camera feed had activated by itself.
The image showed the upstairs hallway.
May you like
A shadow moved across the screen.
Someone was still inside the mansion.
