Chapter 10 - CLARA’S HEIR
Captain Brooks fired at the control panel.
Sparks burst from the wall, but the gas kept flowing.
Arthur grabbed a bronze award and smashed the window once.
Nothing happened.
Again.
A crack spread through the glass.
Julian arrived and drove a fire axe through it.
Fresh air rushed in.
Officers dragged Eleanor into the corridor.
Maya remained beside the desk, staring at the bank statement.
“My mother never told me Clara was her sister.”
Arthur’s voice was quiet.
“Clara begged her to disappear. Eleanor had already threatened everyone close to her.”
“So you watched my family live in hiding.”
“I sent money through the Vale Foundation.”
“And Eleanor stole it.”
Arthur nodded.
Julian looked at his father with open disgust.
“You keep calling secrecy protection.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t. Sophie almost died tonight because nobody in this family tells the truth until there’s a weapon in the room.”
Captain Brooks received a radio call.
“Reed escaped the hotel.”
Gabriel entered with a laptop.
“He took something worse than money.”
Onscreen was a patient database containing private medical records for thousands of people.
Reed had scheduled the files for sale at midnight.
“Can you stop it?” Maya asked.
“I need his encryption key.”
Eleanor laughed from the floor.
“Malcolm keeps it where Arthur buried his first lie.”
Arthur went pale.
Julian understood first.
“Clara’s grave.”
May you like
Eleanor looked at Maya.
“And if you hurry, you might reach it before Malcolm digs up the coffin.”
