The Man Behind the Curtain
Chapter 06 - The Man Behind the Curtain
The forged authorization led to Jonathan Crane, Hawthorne Global’s longtime legal counsel and Eleanor’s most trusted adviser. Jonathan had served the family for twenty-eight years. He had attended every birthday, funeral, and board meeting. Alexander called him Uncle Jon.
When Detective Cole arrived at his office, Jonathan seemed offended rather than afraid. He explained that his electronic signature had been copied and suggested Vanessa was using old family scandals to manipulate Alexander.
His story might have worked if Lily had not recognized his voice.
Clara brought Lily to the station to review audio from the mansion’s service intercom. One recording captured a man whispering, “Use the smaller dose. We need her silent, not dead.”
Lily covered her ears. “That’s the man from the stairs.”
She remembered seeing Jonathan speak to Vanessa before Eleanor entered the hall. He had handed Vanessa the black velvet pouch and told her it contained medicine Eleanor needed. Vanessa had switched the glasses, but Lily believed she had done it because Jonathan instructed her to.
Vanessa was arrested for administering the drug. Faced with the recording, she admitted the switch but claimed Jonathan had told her Eleanor planned to fake an illness to stop the wedding. He promised Vanessa that a mild sedative would embarrass Eleanor and force Alexander to choose sides.
“I wanted her out of our lives,” Vanessa confessed. “I didn’t know it could kill her.”
Alexander felt sick. Vanessa had not intended murder, but she had willingly drugged an elderly woman for personal gain.
Jonathan denied everything. The voice recording was unclear, and the pouch contained no usable fingerprints. Before police could obtain a stronger warrant, he disappeared.
Hours later, Hawthorne Global’s servers were attacked. Financial records connected to Victor Vale, Rose, and the forged engagement contract were deleted. At the same time, a fire began in the mansion archive.
Clara smelled smoke first. She and Alexander raced toward the basement, where decades of family records were turning to ash.
Through the flames, Alexander saw a locked steel cabinet Eleanor had once warned him never to open.
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On its door, someone had painted three letters in black:
V. V. C.
