Chapter 3 - THE RED NOTEBOOK
The police arrived at the mansion before midnight. They photographed the hidden room, measured the false wall, and collected the wine glasses, Vanessa's phone, and the items found in her purse.
Sophia gave her statement in the kitchen. She described the knocks, the movable wine rack, and the first moment she saw Emily behind the wall.
A detective named Alvarez listened carefully.
“Did you tell anyone what you found before Mr. Richard arrived?”
“No. I was afraid someone would stop me.”
“Why?”
Sophia looked toward the staircase. “Because Miss Vanessa told the staff that Mrs. Emily was away for treatment. We were told never to enter the cellar storage area. One housekeeper was dismissed after asking why food trays were being sent downstairs.”
The detective wrote that down.
At the library, officers found the red notebook exactly where Emily had described. It was hidden behind a framed photograph of Richard's late father.
The pages contained dates, account numbers, names, and brief notes in Emily's handwriting.
One entry appeared repeatedly:
C.D. — ORIGINAL APPROVALS.
Another read:
CLAIRE HAS THE SECOND KEY.
Richard studied the notebook while Detective Alvarez stood beside him.
“Do you know what the second key refers to?”
“No.”
Martin turned a page. “There are references to a safe-deposit box.”
Richard looked up. “At which bank?”
The detective photographed the entry. “We'll follow the legal process.”
Before they could continue, a uniformed officer approached.
“Detective, Vanessa's attorney is here. He says she wants to make a statement.”
Alvarez nodded. “She can speak with us through counsel.”
Richard closed the notebook.
“Where is she?”
“In the guest room under supervision.”
Richard did not go to see her.
Instead, he called Claire Donovan. The call went directly to voicemail. He tried again. The number was disconnected.
Martin checked the company's internal directory.
“Her office access was used at 11:42 last night,” he said.
“By whom?”
“Her credentials. The system shows a file was downloaded.”
Richard's expression darkened. “What file?”
Martin read the title.
“Beneficial Ownership — Westbridge Holdings.”
Richard had never heard of Westbridge Holdings.
The notebook had listed it beside a series of transfers totaling more than forty million dollars.
Then Sophia appeared at the library door.
“Mr. Richard?”
He turned.
“I remembered something. Miss Vanessa used to ask me to take envelopes to the old greenhouse. She said they were for the gardener, but there hasn't been a gardener there in months.”
Richard looked at Martin.
“Have the officers check it.”
Sophia hesitated.
“There was a car there tonight. I saw it through the kitchen window. It left just before the police arrived.”
Richard felt the pieces moving into place.
May you like
Someone knew the notebook had been found.
And someone was already running.
