Chapter 8 - The House Inside the House)
Returning to Blackwood Manor was reckless.
Arthur knew it.
Samuel said it repeatedly.
Helen said it once, which was worse.
But the board vote would happen at nine the following morning.
They had no time.
Arthur entered through the old maintenance tunnel with Samuel and Grace.
Maya and Noah remained with Helen.
This time Arthur wore no suit.
Dark clothes.
Gloves.
A small flashlight.
Samuel carried a legally registered handgun.
Grace carried Daniel's bracelet.
The mansion was silent.
No guards visible.
That made Arthur more nervous than armed men would have.
They reached the laundry wing.
Grace opened a cabinet.
Empty.
"The music box was here."
Arthur swore.
"Victoria?"
"Maybe."
Samuel examined the shelf.
Dust outlined a rectangular shape.
Then Grace noticed something.
A torn piece of felt.
Blue.
She bent down.
"Caroline repaired the bottom once."
Arthur looked at her.
"Meaning?"
"The box had a false compartment."
"If Victoria has it..."
"She may already have the records."
A sound came from the hallway.
They froze.
Footsteps.
Samuel raised the gun.
Evelyn appeared.
Arthur lowered his light.
"Evelyn?"
She almost collapsed with relief.
"I've been trying to reach you."
"What happened?"
"Victoria came back."
"When?"
"Three hours ago."
"Where is she?"
"Boardroom."
Arthur frowned.
The mansion had a private executive conference room used during retreats.
"Who's with her?"
Evelyn swallowed.
"Richard Vale."
Arthur felt cold.
"Anyone else?"
"Two board members. Company counsel. Peter Lawson."
Samuel whispered, "They're preparing the vote remotely."
Grace asked, "The music box?"
Evelyn looked confused.
"What music box?"
Grace described it.
Evelyn nodded.
"I saw Victoria carrying something wooden upstairs."
Arthur turned toward the staircase.
Samuel caught his arm.
"Arthur."
"What?"
"Vale wants you here."
"Good."
"That's not what I mean."
Arthur looked at him.
Samuel continued.
"If the vote needs your presence or signature, this may be bait."
Arthur thought of the proxy.
"They already have my proxy."
"Maybe it's not enough."
Evelyn whispered, "They were arguing."
"About what?"
"I heard Victoria say, 'He has to revoke it himself.'"
Samuel smiled for the first time that day.
"The proxy contains a conflict clause."
Arthur understood.
"If Victoria directly benefits from the transaction..."
"Your authorization becomes suspended unless you reaffirm."
Arthur looked toward the boardroom.
"So they need me."
"Yes."
Arthur almost laughed.
"Then let's disappoint them."
Grace stayed hidden with Evelyn.
Arthur and Samuel moved upstairs.
The boardroom doors were open.
Victoria sat at the long walnut table.
Richard Vale stood by the windows.
He was seventy-one.
Silver-haired.
Immaculate.
He looked exactly as Arthur remembered from childhood dinners.
Which somehow made him more frightening.
"Arthur," Vale said.
"Richard."
"You've had an exhausting day."
"You kidnapped Grace."
Vale smiled.
"Did I?"
"You ordered my brother followed."
"Daniel was unstable."
"You lied at his funeral."
Vale's expression didn't change.
"Grief makes people dramatic."
Victoria stood.
"You stole my property."
Arthur looked at her.
"The ledger?"
"Our marital property."
Samuel laughed softly.
Victoria glared at him.
Vale gestured toward a chair.
"Sit."
Arthur remained standing.
"Release the children from every legal claim. Cancel the sale. Turn Grace over unharmed."
Vale smiled.
"You have confused leverage with emotion."
Arthur placed his phone on the table.
"Your voice is on Caroline's recording."
Vale's smile weakened.
Victoria's face changed.
Arthur noticed.
She hadn't known.
"Caroline is dead," Vale said.
"Are you sure?"
For the first time Vale went completely still.
Arthur saw it.
Samuel saw it too.
Arthur leaned forward.
"You don't know."
Vale recovered.
"Cheap theater."
"Then why did you move her from St. Agnes?"
Victoria interrupted.
"Enough."
Vale turned sharply.
Victoria realized she had made a mistake.
Arthur smiled.
"You were there."
Victoria looked at him.
"I already told you I wasn't."
"No. You told Grace."
Silence.
Arthur continued.
"Caroline recorded you."
Victoria's face drained.
Vale turned toward her.
A new tension entered the room.
Not partnership.
Fear.
Arthur understood something important.
Victoria wasn't Vale's equal.
She was afraid of him.
Vale said quietly, "What exactly did she record?"
Victoria answered too quickly.
"Nothing useful."
Arthur looked between them.
Vale didn't trust Victoria.
Victoria didn't trust Vale.
That fracture could be used.
Arthur pulled out a chair.
"Let's make a deal."
Vale laughed.
"You have nothing I need."
Arthur reached into his jacket.
He placed the Union Central key on the table.
Victoria stared.
Vale's eyes narrowed.
Arthur said, "This opens the second vault."
Samuel looked at him.
There was no second vault.
Arthur continued smoothly.
"Daniel kept two."
Vale looked at Victoria.
She looked genuinely confused.
Perfect.
Arthur sat.
"You have a choice. Continue trusting a woman who didn't know Daniel recorded her, or listen to me."
Vale's gaze hardened.
"Where is the second vault?"
Arthur leaned back.
"First tell me where Caroline is."
Victoria whispered, "Don't."
Vale turned toward her.
Arthur saw panic flash across her face.
Vale knew something.
Victoria knew he knew it.
Then a phone rang on the table.
Vale answered.
He listened.
His expression changed.
"What?"
Everyone waited.
Vale slowly looked at Arthur.
Someone on the phone spoke again.
Vale whispered, "That's impossible."
He ended the call.
Arthur stood.
"What happened?"
Vale stared toward Victoria.
"Someone just froze the infrastructure sale."
Victoria shook her head.
"Who?"
May you like
Vale's answer changed everything.
"Caroline Wexler."
