Chapter 6 - The Shattered Door
Grant forced Emily downstairs shortly before Robert arrived.
The mansion was filled with trustees, investors, and family acquaintances. On the dining table waited the final transfer documents.
Grant smiled as he placed a pen beside Emily’s hand.
“Sign.”
Emily looked around the room.
The guests were talking among themselves. Vivian stood nearby in a burgundy gown, wearing Caroline’s pearl necklace.
Emily’s mother’s necklace.
“You had no right to wear that,” Emily said.
Vivian touched the pearls.
“Tonight is about appearances.”
Emily pushed the documents away.
“No.”
Grant’s smile vanished.
Several guests turned toward them.
“Emily is tired,” Vivian announced. “She has been struggling recently.”
Grant placed his hand on Emily’s shoulder.
She pulled away.
“I am not confused,” Emily said loudly. “Grant has been stealing from the foundation.”
The room fell silent.
Grant reached for her arm, but Emily moved toward the front entrance.
She needed to reach the emergency button beneath the camera.
Vivian followed and caught the back of Emily’s blouse. Emily twisted free, grabbing the pearl necklace instinctively. The string broke.
Pearls scattered across the marble floor.
Grant saw Emily reaching outside.
He understood.
He seized a decorative baseball bat from the wall display and struck the glass panel beside the door, trying to reach the camera wiring without opening the entrance.
The glass shattered.
Guests screamed and moved backward.
Emily pressed the hidden button once.
Grant tore at the damaged frame.
She pressed it twice.
Blue and red lights appeared beyond the iron gates.
Grant opened the door and stepped onto the porch with the bat, intending to block anyone from entering.
Emily pressed the button a third time.
The camera’s blue light began blinking.
May you like
Upload activated.
Then Robert ran across the driveway.
