Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN HE TRUSTEDArthur spent the next morning reviewing security footage.
One person appeared repeatedly near Daniel's room.
Maria.
Arthur stared at the screen.
She entered Daniel's room at 11:42 p.m.
Then left seven minutes later.
Arthur turned toward her.
“Why were you there?”
Maria looked shocked.
“I was checking on him.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't want to wake you.”
Arthur paused the recording.
“Who else was in the hallway?”
“No one.”
The camera showed otherwise.
A shadow moved behind her.
Arthur zoomed in.
It was impossible to identify the person.
Maria whispered:
“I told you someone was watching us.”
Arthur believed her.
But suspicion had already infected everything.
He asked:
“Where is Daniel's trust paperwork?”
“In the safe.”
“Show me.”
They opened it.
The main documents were still there.
But one page was missing.
Arthur's face hardened.
“What page?”
Maria looked at the file.
“The beneficiary amendment.”
Arthur stared.
“Who removed it?”
Maria shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Arthur checked the safe log.
Only three people had accessed it.
Arthur.
Elena.
Maria.
He looked at both women.
“Which one of you is lying?”
Neither answered.
Then Sophie entered.
“I know who.”
Everyone turned.
Sophie held a photograph.
“Thomas gave me this.”
It showed Margaret, Elena's mother, meeting a man.
Arthur recognized him.
Richard Hale.
But there was another person in the photograph.
Maria's father.
Arthur looked at Maria.
She closed her eyes.
“My father was working for them.”
“Who?”
“Richard.”
Arthur's voice became cold.
“And you?”
“I was trying to stop him.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because if I wanted Daniel's trust, I would have taken it already.”
Arthur had no answer.
Then the doorbell rang.
A woman stood outside.
Older.
Elegant.
Terrified.
Elena stared.
“Mom?”
Margaret Hale stepped inside.
Elena could barely breathe.
“You're alive.”
Margaret nodded.
“I stayed away to keep you safe.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“Who is behind this?”
Margaret looked at him.
“Victor.”
Arthur frowned.
“Victor is helping us.”
“No.”
Margaret shook her head.
“He has been playing both sides.”
Arthur stared.
“Why?”
“Because he wants control of the original trust.”
Arthur looked at the documents.
Margaret continued:
“Your grandfather created two trusts.”
“One for money.”
“And one for evidence.”
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
“Where is the second one?”
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“Inside the house.”
Arthur froze.
“Where?”
She pointed toward the old library.
“Behind the portrait.”
Arthur rushed there.
He removed the painting.
A metal compartment appeared.
Inside was a sealed box.
Arthur opened it.
A recording began.
His grandfather's voice filled the room.
“If Arthur has reached this point, the family has failed again.”
Arthur stared.
The recording continued.
“The true inheritance is not money.”
A pause.
“It is proof.”
Then his grandfather named the people who had manipulated the family.
Victor.
Richard.
Thomas.
Margaret.
And one final name.
Arthur's own father.
But there was something strange.
The recording had been edited.
Someone had removed the final thirty seconds.
Arthur looked at Margaret.
“Who cut the recording?”
She whispered:
“I don't know.”
Then Daniel suddenly spoke from the doorway.
“Daddy?”
Arthur turned.
Daniel was holding a small cassette.
“I found this under the rug.”
Arthur took it.
The missing thirty seconds.
He pressed play.
His grandfather's voice returned.
“The person who betrays the family will not be the one you expect.”
Then silence.
Arthur looked at everyone.
The mystery had become more dangerous.
May you like
Because now they knew the betrayal was still happening.
And the betrayer was still among them.
