Chapter 3 - THE CAMERA IN THE HALL
Mark inserted the flash drive into his computer.
The screen filled with grainy nighttime footage.
The time stamp showed 1:47 a.m.
Victoria appeared in the nursery hallway wearing a silk robe.
She looked left.
Then right.
She entered Noah’s room.
Four minutes later, she emerged holding several documents.
Mark leaned closer.
“Those came from the safe in Daniel’s room.”
Sarah nodded.
Daniel’s old bedroom had remained mostly untouched since the accident.
Mark had stored family papers there, including copies of Noah’s birth certificate, Daniel’s will, and sealed documents from their father.
The video continued.
Victoria walked directly toward Mark’s study.
At 2:06 a.m., she came back holding a folder.
Then another person appeared.
Mark froze.
A man wearing a dark coat entered from the service staircase.
His face was partly turned away from the camera.
Victoria handed him the folder.
Mark paused the video.
“Who is that?”
Sarah shook her head.
“I do not know.”
Mark enlarged the image.
The man was tall.
Gray hair.
Expensive watch.
The side of his face seemed familiar.
Then Mark’s eyes changed.
“No.”
Sarah looked at him.
“You know him?”
Mark stood so fast his chair struck the wall.
“That is Charles Vance.”
Sarah waited.
“My father’s former attorney.”
Sarah’s confusion deepened.
“I thought your attorney was Mr. Caldwell.”
“He is.”
Mark stared at the screen.
“Charles was fired nine years ago.”
“Why?”
Mark did not answer immediately.
“He tried to convince my father to restructure the family trust before he died.”
“For what reason?”
“He said the assets needed stronger protection.”
Mark gave a humorless laugh.
“My father later discovered Charles had inserted clauses that would have given himself temporary control if both Daniel and I became legally incapacitated.”
Sarah felt cold.
“What happened?”
“My father fired him and threatened criminal charges.”
“Were charges filed?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“My father thought public scandal would damage the company.”
Sarah looked toward the ceiling as if she could somehow see Noah sleeping above them.
“So Victoria has been meeting with a man who already tried to take control of your family’s money.”
“Yes.”
Mark resumed the video.
At 2:19 a.m., Charles disappeared down the service stairs.
Victoria remained in the hallway.
Before returning to bed, she stopped outside Noah’s room.
She looked directly at the camera.
Then she smiled.
Mark shut the laptop.
“I am calling the police.”
Sarah stopped him.
“Wait.”
Mark looked at her sharply.
“You want me to wait after seeing that?”
“No.”
Sarah spoke carefully.
“I want you to call the police after you know what they are planning.”
“They forged documents and brought an unidentified medication near a baby.”
“I know.”
“Then why wait?”
“Because Victoria said something before she left.”
Mark’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“She said I should have stayed invisible.”
Sarah looked at the flash drive.
“I do not think she was threatening only me.”
Mark’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
It was Victoria.
He answered.
“What do you want?”
Her voice came softly through the speaker.
“You should check your company accounts before you call anyone.”
The call ended.
Mark immediately opened his financial dashboard.
His face changed.
Sarah stood.
“What?”
May you like
Mark stared at the screen.
“Twelve million dollars is missing.”
