Chapter 6 - THE SECOND RECORDING
The old archive room was hidden behind the estate library.
It had once stored household accounts, maintenance manuals, and personal
papers belonging to Julian’s father. After the accident, most of the
records had been moved to the security wing. The remaining shelves were
covered in dust.
Claire knew the room because she had cleaned it twice during her first
week.
Julian waited in the corridor while she checked the door.
“Andrew mentioned a second copy?” he asked.
“He never said where. But he knew Gabriel would search the obvious
places.”
“Why would he leave evidence in an archive?”
“Because nobody important comes here anymore.”
The door was locked. Claire examined the brass plate and noticed a
narrow scratch beside the keyhole.
“Someone has been in recently.”
Julian looked down the corridor.
“Can you open it?”
“I used to help my brother with mechanical locks.”
She took a small metal pin from her hair and worked it into the keyway.
The lock clicked after several seconds.
Inside, the room smelled of paper and old wood. Claire went straight to
the filing cabinets marked VEHICLE AND ESTATE SECURITY. She searched the
drawers until she found a thin envelope taped beneath the lowest shelf.
It contained a memory card and a handwritten note.
If you found this, the first copy was compromised. Look at the lake
camera from the service tower. The camera sees the terrace, but not the
water.
Julian read it.
“The service tower is locked.”
“Can you get us access?”
“Not while Gabriel controls security.”
Claire held up the memory card.
“Then we don’t need to enter the tower. We need the recording.”
Julian called his attorney, who arranged for an independent technician
to copy the estate’s exterior camera files. The technician arrived an
hour later, accompanied by two officers.
Gabriel objected.
“This is an internal security system. It cannot be accessed without my
authorization.”
Julian looked at him.
“I’m the owner.”
“Your medical condition—”
“Does not make you the property.”
The technician copied the footage.
At first, it showed nothing unusual. Guests moved across the terrace.
Waiters carried drinks. Julian spoke with two board members near the
water.
Then, eleven minutes before the fall, a figure entered the frame from
the service path.
The person crouched beside the wheelchair.
The camera image was grainy, but the figure’s posture was unmistakable.
Gabriel.
He reached beneath the seat and appeared to attach something near the
brake housing. Then he stood and walked away.
Claire felt her pulse quicken.
“Can you zoom in?”
The technician enlarged the image.
A silver key flashed in Gabriel’s hand.
Julian stared at the screen.
“That’s the key he was holding.”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“This footage proves nothing. I was checking the chair.”
“Without recording the inspection?” Julian asked.
“I was making sure it was safe.”
“Then why did you leave the brake housing open?”
Gabriel’s eyes moved toward the technician.
“Stop the playback.”
The officer beside the door stepped between them.
“No one is touching the equipment.”
The footage continued. A second person entered the frame after Gabriel
left. The person stood near the terrace doors, looked toward the camera,
and raised one hand.
Victoria.
She did not approach the chair. She simply waited until Gabriel
returned, then followed him inside.
The room fell silent.
Julian looked at his sister.
“Do you still want to tell me this was a misunderstanding?”
Victoria’s expression remained controlled.
“You are misreading a routine inspection.”
“Then explain it to the police.”
She glanced at Gabriel.
May you like
He did not look back.
For the first time, Claire saw fear in Victoria’s face.
