Chapter 6 - Claire’s Voice
Nobody moved.
Claire’s recorded voice was weak, but clear.
“I found transfers disguised as emergency grants. The money moved from the Sterling Foundation into shell vendors, then into a property trust controlled through a law office. Marcus approved the grants. Isabella introduced the law firm.”
Isabella shook her head. “She hated me.”
William looked at her. “Claire barely knew you.”
“She knew you were going to move on.”
“I met you six months after she died.”
Isabella realized too late what she had said.
Emma’s eyes narrowed. “How would Claire know William planned to marry you?”
“I misspoke.”
Claire’s recording continued.
“There’s more. I started getting dizzy after I confronted Marcus. My prescriptions began arriving in unmarked organizers instead of sealed pharmacy bottles. Dr. Patel said the dose changes were not his.”
William’s hands went cold.
Claire had died after a rapid decline everyone blamed on the illness.
He had trusted the nurses.
He had trusted Marcus.
He had trusted the household.
The recording crackled.
“I hid copies in places Charlotte would never leave behind. Her rabbit. Her storybook. The music box my father gave her.”
William looked at Daniel. “Music box?”
Daniel nodded slowly. “In Charlotte’s room.”
William ran upstairs.
The door was open.
One of the officers was unconscious on the carpet.
The pediatric nurse was screaming from the bathroom, where someone had locked her inside.
Charlotte’s bed was empty.
William’s heart stopped.
“Charlotte!”
He tore through the room.
The window was still locked. The closet was empty.
Then he saw the small servants’ door hidden behind a tapestry.
It stood open.
May you like
A trail of tiny cream-colored threads led into the passage.
And on the floor beside them lay Charlotte’s torn hair ribbon.
