Chapter 6 - Behind the Blue Wall
The blue room was a guest bedroom on the mansion’s west side.
It had not been used since Adrian’s engagement party.
Vanessa claimed the room was being redecorated, and staff had been forbidden to enter without permission.
At midnight, after Adrian left for his city apartment to escape the tension, Eleanor waited until the house became quiet.
Then she removed her shoes and crossed the upper corridor.
Rosa stood watch near the staircase.
Nathan had disabled the west-wing cameras for seven minutes. He did not ask why Eleanor was disguised. He simply whispered, “You have five minutes.”
Eleanor entered the blue room.
Moonlight fell across covered furniture.
The walls were painted deep navy. One section near the fireplace appeared slightly darker than the rest.
Eleanor pressed her fingertips against it.
The panel shifted.
Behind it was a narrow compartment.
Inside were three blue travel bags.
The first contained jewelry.
Bracelets.
Necklaces.
Loose diamonds in sealed packets.
Several pieces belonged to the Cole family collection.
The second bag contained documents.
Debt statements in Vanessa’s name.
Private loan agreements.
Letters from a Monaco casino.
The total exceeded fourteen million dollars.
The third bag was empty except for a photograph and a disposable phone.
Eleanor picked up the photograph.
Vanessa stood beside Charles Brennan on a yacht.
Between them was a man Eleanor recognized from business news.
Victor Sloane.
A financier who had disappeared after being accused of operating an international investment fraud.
He had supposedly died two years earlier when his private plane vanished over the Atlantic.
Yet the photograph was dated nine months ago.
Eleanor turned on the disposable phone.
No passcode.
Only one saved number.
Several recent messages appeared.
Friday is the final deadline.
Get the signature and secure the archive key.
After the ceremony, transfer control.
If Cole’s mother interferes, use the foundation files.
Eleanor read the final message twice.
The archive key in her hem suddenly felt heavier.
They were not merely stealing from Adrian.
They wanted something stored inside Cole Capital’s private archives.
A floorboard creaked behind her.
Eleanor turned.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
No lights.
No smile.
Only a pistol in her hand.
“You are not a housekeeper,” Vanessa said.
Eleanor slowly lowered the phone.
“What makes you think that?”
“Housekeepers don’t disable cameras.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then someone is helping you.”
Vanessa stepped into the room and closed the door.
“Who sent you?”
Eleanor considered lying.
Instead, she asked, “Who is Victor Sloane?”
Vanessa’s expression barely changed.
But the pistol rose.
“You should not know that name.”
“And you should not have stolen from this family.”
Vanessa laughed softly.
“This family steals from everyone.”
“You sound as though you believe that.”
“I know it.”
She moved closer.
“Do you think Eleanor Cole built an empire by being kind?”
“No.”
The answer surprised Vanessa.
Eleanor continued.
“She built it by being disciplined. There is a difference.”
Vanessa studied her face.
“Who are you?”
Before Eleanor could respond, a sound came from the corridor.
Nathan’s voice.
“Security inspection.”
Vanessa looked toward the door.
Eleanor moved.
She struck Vanessa’s wrist with the edge of her hand.
The pistol fell onto the carpet.
Vanessa lunged for it, but Eleanor kicked it beneath the bed.
The door opened.
Nathan entered and pinned Vanessa against the wall.
For one second, Eleanor believed it was over.
Then Vanessa began to laugh.
“You can’t arrest me.”
Nathan held her wrist.
“I can detain you until police arrive.”
“No, you can’t.”
She turned her face toward Eleanor.
“Because if anyone opens those bags, Adrian loses everything.”
Eleanor remained calm.
“Explain.”
Vanessa nodded toward the documents.
“Look beneath the debt statements.”
Eleanor opened the folder.
Under Vanessa’s records were financial transfers bearing Adrian’s electronic authorization.
Payments to offshore companies.
Bribes to government officials.
Illegal campaign contributions.
The documents made Adrian appear responsible for multiple crimes.
Eleanor examined the signatures.
They looked authentic.
“They’re forged,” she said.
“Can you prove it?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Before the police arrive? Before the markets open? Before the board removes him?”
Nathan’s grip tightened.
Vanessa did not flinch.
“You expose me,” she said, “and Adrian goes to prison first.”
A phone began vibrating inside the compartment.
The disposable phone.
Eleanor looked at the screen.
May you like
A new message had appeared.
You have been compromised. Burn the house.
