Chapter 16 - Under the Glass Roof
Rain tapped against the conservatory's glass roof. Claire entered through the main doors carrying a black document case. Beneath enormous ferns, warm lights illuminated wet stone paths. Eleanor waited beside an antique fountain, pearls shining above her burgundy gown. Adrian stood a few feet behind her.
"Where's Sophie?" Claire demanded.
Eleanor pointed to a locked interior door. "Nearby. First, the documents."
"Let me hear her voice."
Adrian took out his phone and played a recording. Sophie shouted Claire's name, then the sound stopped.
Claire kept her face still. "You said she was safe."
"She is, if you cooperate," Adrian said.
For the first time since the wedding, he sounded frightened. Claire realized Eleanor was watching him too.
"Did you know about the shooting at the pier?" Claire asked.
"Nobody was supposed to get hurt," he muttered.
Eleanor's head snapped toward him. "Be quiet."
"You told me Grant would scare Thomas. You didn't say he'd fire a rifle."
"Adrian."
Claire took one slow step back. The tiny microphone clipped under her collar transmitted every word to investigators waiting beyond the hedges.
"So you admit my father was the target."
Eleanor smiled without warmth. "Your father could have been rich. Instead he wanted to play hero."
She reached for the case. Claire refused to release it.
"Where is Sophie?"
An alarm sounded from the rear of the conservatory. Someone had opened the maintenance door. Eleanor turned toward the sound, furious.
May you like
Then a faint voice rose from below the floor.
"Claire! Don't let them lock it again!"
