Chapter 4 - THE FIRE IN ROOM 12
Eleanor remembered the fire.
She had tried not to.
The old Hawthorne facility had burned at night.
Room 12 had been destroyed.
Three residents died.
Her husband had been devastated.
He had always insisted that faulty wiring caused it.
But apparently, he had known better.
Daniel drove Eleanor to the old property the following morning.
Nothing remained except a brick foundation.
She stood in the cold morning air.
“Why bring me here?”
“Because this is where your husband's first secret began.”
Daniel pointed toward the ground.
“Room 12 was here.”
“What was inside?”
“Financial records.”
Eleanor frowned.
“Financial records?”
“Your husband had discovered that Richard Vale was stealing money.”
“And the fire destroyed the evidence.”
“Yes.”
“Was anyone inside?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Yes.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Three residents.”
“But there was another person.”
“Who?”
“Sophie.”
Eleanor's eyes opened.
“She was there?”
“She had returned that night.”
“Why?”
“To confront Richard.”
Daniel explained that Sophie had discovered the theft.
She had collected copies of bank statements.
She intended to expose Richard.
But before she could, the fire began.
Sophie escaped.
The documents didn't.
Richard disappeared.
Then Eleanor's husband told Sophie to leave.
He claimed it was for her safety.
But Sophie believed he was protecting Richard.
She left.
Taking her baby with her.
Her baby.
Lucas.
Eleanor whispered:
“She thought my husband abandoned her.”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“Because someone forged a letter in his name.”
Eleanor stared.
“Who?”
Daniel's answer came quietly.
“Your son.”
Eleanor felt sick.
“Marcus was a baby.”
“Marcus didn't do it.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Someone did it for him.”
Eleanor's blood ran cold.
“Who?”
Daniel handed her an old photograph.
A young Richard Vale.
Beside him stood a woman.
Eleanor recognized her.
“Brielle's mother.”
Daniel nodded.
“Exactly.”
The conspiracy suddenly became larger.
Marcus had not created it alone.
He had inherited it.
Richard had trained him.
Brielle's family had helped.
And Eleanor's own husband had spent years trying to undo the damage.
But why hadn't he told her?
Daniel handed her the final page of her husband's letter.
Because if Eleanor knew the truth, she would become a target.
I chose silence to protect you.
I was wrong.
Eleanor began crying.
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
“And he never told me?”
“He was afraid.”
“Of Richard?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Of someone inside the family.”
Eleanor looked toward him.
“Who?”
Daniel stared at the ground.
“Your husband believed Marcus was being manipulated.”
“By whom?”
Daniel answered:
“Brielle.”
Eleanor's heart sank.
“Brielle?”
“She was the one who kept telling Marcus that he deserved control.”
“But why?”
“Because Brielle's family was drowning in debt.”
Eleanor remembered the expensive wedding.
The house.
The cars.
The business.
All paid for.
By her.
Daniel continued.
“Brielle needed access to your estate.”
“And Marcus was her way in.”
“Yes.”
Eleanor sat on the old stone foundation.
Suddenly, the dog-food dinner seemed almost insignificant.
The humiliation.
The insults.
The laughter.
They had been the final act of a plan years in the making.
Her son had believed she was too old to fight back.
Her daughter-in-law had believed she could manipulate him.
Her attorney had betrayed her.
Her husband had died carrying secrets.
And somewhere in Seattle was a woman who believed Eleanor had abandoned her.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What happened?”
He listened.
Then looked at Eleanor.
“Sophie is missing.”
Eleanor stood.
“What?”
“She left her home two hours ago.”
“Where did she go?”
Daniel's face was grim.
“Here.”
“Here?”
“She sent one message.”
“To whom?”
Daniel showed Eleanor the screen.
The message said:
I'm coming to the Hawthorne property. I finally found the original evidence.
Eleanor's heart raced.
“Then we have to find her.”
Daniel nodded.
But before they could leave, another message arrived.
This one from an unknown number.
If you want Sophie alive, come alone.
Eleanor stared at the words.
Then another message appeared.
Bring the original trust.
She looked at Daniel.
“Someone has her.”
Daniel reached for his phone.
“Call the police.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
She looked toward the burned foundation.
“Because whoever took her knows exactly how the police work.”
She picked up her coat.
“I know what they want.”
Daniel asked:
“What?”
Eleanor answered:
“They want the company.”
May you like
Then she added quietly:
“And they're willing to kill for it.”
