Chapter 9 - The Attorney’s Betrayal
Arthur admitted the red folder had been out of his possession for seven minutes.
Before entering the mansion, he stopped at the gate after receiving a call from the family’s senior counsel, Edward Sloan.
Edward claimed the documents needed one final review.
Arthur refused to surrender the folder.
But during the argument, Edward’s assistant carried it into the security office.
When it was returned, the seal appeared intact.
The deed confirmation had vanished.
Edward Sloan had represented the Mercer family for thirty years.
He attended Julian’s wedding.
Prepared Agnes’s foundation filings.
Handled the trust rescue when the mansion nearly entered foreclosure.
He knew Thomas owned the debt.
He also knew Agnes had diverted money.
Edward had protected her.
Police searched his office.
They found copies of forged medical records and trust amendments.
But no deed.
Edward disappeared before officers arrived.
His car was found at a private airfield.
No flight departed.
Investigators believed he remained nearby.
Thomas called Evelyn.
“I made a mistake trusting him.”
“You warned me not to trust Julian, but you trusted the family lawyer.”
“I believed loyalty could be purchased with responsibility.”
“So did Julian.”
Thomas accepted the comparison.
“I am sorry.”
Evelyn looked through the guesthouse window at Lily asleep on the sofa.
“What happens if we cannot find the deed?”
“The ownership remains recorded with the county.”
“Then why does Agnes need the original?”
“It contains the side agreement proving the Mercer family voluntarily surrendered permanent ownership.”
Without it, Agnes could argue the transfer was temporary collateral.
Litigation could last years.
She could seek access to the mansion during the dispute.
Evelyn did not care about the building.
She cared about the archive.
If Agnes regained access, evidence could disappear.
Arthur reviewed footage from the mansion gate.
Edward’s assistant removed something from the folder and placed it inside a medical bag.
The same bag Agnes had taken from Evelyn before the slap.
Police had never recovered it.
Evelyn remembered Agnes handing the bag to a waiter.
The waiter then disappeared into the ballroom.
The young man was not mansion staff.
He had been hired through an outside agency.
Investigators found his name.
Caleb Sloan.
May you like
Edward’s nephew.
👉 The missing deed had been inside Lily’s medical bag while the child was being denied treatment.
