The Key Behind the Portrait
Chapter 04 - The Key Behind the Portrait
Olivia recognized her father’s handwriting immediately. The capital O curved backward, and he always pressed too hard on the final letters of a sentence.
Her hands shook as Margaret passed her the note.
“How did this get here?” Olivia asked.
Henry stared at the paper. “Daniel came to the house two nights before he was accused. I was in Singapore. My wife, Eleanor, was still alive. She must have hidden it.”
Logan gave a dismissive laugh. “A sentimental note proves nothing.”
“No,” Henry said. “But your fear of it proves a great deal.”
The brass key was old and unusually long. On one side, tiny numbers had been engraved: 4-17-9.
Mrs. Alvarez, the Ashfords’ longtime housekeeper, entered quietly with tea. When she saw the key, she nearly dropped the tray.
“That opens the service tunnel beneath the west garden,” she said.
Logan turned on her. “There is no tunnel.”
Mrs. Alvarez met his glare. “I have worked here longer than you have been alive.”
The tunnel had once connected the mansion to a private records building used before the foundation moved downtown. Henry ordered security to search it at once.
Logan stepped toward the door. “This is absurd. I’m calling the board.”
Margaret blocked him. “You may call them after we complete a forensic copy of your devices.”
“You have no authority.”
Henry’s voice hardened. “I am still controlling trustee.”
Logan’s jaw tightened. “Not for long. The board votes next month, and most members support me.”
“Do they support you,” Olivia asked, “or do they depend on the money you move for them?”
The room went still.
Logan looked at her as if he had forgotten she was no longer trapped in the pool.
“You think you’re clever because you found a few invoices,” he said. “Your father thought the same. He died before anyone believed him.”
Henry struck the floor with his cane. “Enough.”
But Olivia had heard the hidden meaning.
“What do you mean, he died before anyone believed him?”
Logan’s face became blank. “Everyone knows he had a heart attack.”
“My father died in a car crash.”
For the first time, Logan had no answer.
Henry looked from his grandson to Margaret. “Do not let him leave this room.”
A security guard appeared in the doorway, breathing hard.
“We opened the tunnel,” he said. “Someone was there before us. The records room has been burned.”
May you like
Then he held up a wet leather folder.
“But we found this beneath the sprinkler pipe.”
