Chapter 8 – THE FIRE WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT
Charles Mercer sat in a chair beneath the library chandelier.
Two investigators stood nearby.
On Samuel’s laptop, the recovered video played again.
Victoria walked toward Eleanor’s bedroom.
Charles followed.
One minute later, the camera flickered.
Then smoke began filling the hallway.
Charles looked at the screen and lowered his head.
Samuel spoke quietly.
“Tell us what happened.”
Charles had already given a recorded statement to the investigators and agreed to cooperate with authorities.
He admitted that he had disabled several security cameras that evening.
Victoria told him Eleanor would be away from the estate and that the fire was supposed to destroy sensitive financial records.
But Eleanor had returned unexpectedly.
“I didn’t know she was upstairs,” Charles said.
Richard grabbed his collar.
“My mother almost died!”
“Richard!” Samuel shouted.
Richard released him.
Charles continued.
When he realized Eleanor was inside, he had rushed upstairs and found her unconscious near the bedroom.
He carried her out through the service entrance.
Victoria then ordered him to transport her to a private medical facility and register her under a false identity.
“Why didn’t you call the police?” Sophie demanded.
Charles stared at the floor.
“Because she had proof I helped take Grace.”
Eleanor looked toward Victoria.
The woman she had once welcomed into her company had stolen her daughter, erased her identity and nearly killed her.
Victoria smiled bitterly.
“You think any of you would have this life without me?”
Samuel closed his laptop.
“The authorities will decide what charges are supported by the evidence.”
But before police could speak with Victoria, the manor’s emergency alarm sounded.
Sophie rushed toward the entrance.
A black car was speeding away from the property.
Victoria had escaped through the service door.
And a few minutes later, Richard discovered that the original trust ledger had disappeared from the locked office safe.
Samuel received a message from Victoria: “Withdraw the ownership claim before midnight, or the original records disappear forever.”