Chapter 9 - The Camera Ethan Disabled
The study camera had gone dark eleven days earlier.
Ethan claimed it malfunctioned.
Nathaniel recovered the system log.
Someone used Ethan’s administrator code to disable it.
Maya looked at him.
“You helped her.”
“I didn’t know what she planned.”
“You gave her access.”
“She said she needed old property records.”
“You never asked me.”
“You would have said no.”
That answer exposed everything.
Ethan did not see Maya’s consent as necessary.
Only inconvenient.
Nathaniel restored the backup footage.
The recording showed Ethan unlocking the study.
Beatrice entered behind him.
They searched the filing cabinets.
Ethan found the sealed envelope.
Beatrice opened it.
Then a third person entered.
A man wearing a black wool coat.
Maya recognized him.
Ethan’s business partner, Lucas Vane.
Lucas photographed the covenant and placed the original inside his coat.
Ethan stared at the screen.
“He said he would make a copy.”
Beatrice closed her eyes.
“You idiot.”
Maya looked at Ethan.
“You knew he took it.”
“I thought he was protecting us.”
“From me?”
“From your grandfather’s ridiculous restrictions.”
Nathaniel paused the footage.
Lucas carried more than the document.
A small flash drive was visible in his hand.
The study computer stored the trust’s financial archives.
If Lucas copied them, he had access to every account Ethan had used.
Beatrice’s fear deepened.
She had not realized Lucas took the data.
Neither had Ethan.
Their accomplice now possessed enough evidence to destroy them.
Nathaniel called him.
No answer.
Then Maya’s phone vibrated.
May you like
A message from an unknown number appeared.
I HAVE THE ORIGINAL. COME ALONE IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR HUSBAND REALLY SIGNED.
