Chapter 17 - THE COUNTERATTACK
Graham did not run.
He laughed.
“That bottle came from my office supply closet.”
Mason stared at him.
“You expect us to believe that.”
“I expect you to verify it.”
They did.
Graham was telling the truth.
Months earlier, Sterling Manor’s maintenance staff had borrowed supplies from a storage cabinet used by his firm during renovations.
The fingerprint proved nothing.
Another dead end.
Then Claire remembered something.
Not evidence.
A feeling.
The moment before she fell.
Evelyn had grabbed her wrist.
Claire had turned.
Someone behind her had whispered.
Not “do it now.”
Something else.
Two words.
“Watch her.”
Then the male imitation of Graham’s voice had played from somewhere nearby.
A recording.
Claire stood.
“The voice wasn’t spoken live.”
Mason looked at her.
“It came from a device.”
They returned to the staircase.
Police searched beneath tables.
Inside vents.
Behind curtains.
Rosa found it.
A tiny wireless speaker taped beneath the railing.
Forensics recovered purchase data.
The speaker had been ordered online using an account belonging to Claire.
Another frame.
But the shipping address was different.
A private mailbox in Boston.
Security footage showed who collected it.
Helena’s personal assistant.
Margaret Pike.
Everyone knew Margaret.
Quiet.
Efficient.
Fifty-eight.
She had served Helena for almost twenty years.
Police found her packing a suitcase in the guest wing.
She did not resist.
Mason placed the speaker in front of her.
“Why.”
Margaret stared at Helena.
Helena stared back.
Something passed between them.
Claire saw it.
“Helena ordered you.”
Margaret said nothing.
Mason leaned forward.
“We have the purchase.”
“The false account.”
“The speaker.”
“Your presence on the property.”
Margaret finally whispered.
“She promised my son would be taken care of.”
Claire looked at Helena.
“What son.”
Margaret began crying.
“Graham.”
Everyone turned toward the attorney.
Graham looked as stunned as Claire felt.
“No.”
Margaret covered her face.
“I never told you.”
Graham stepped backward.
Helena closed her eyes.
Margaret continued.
“I was nineteen.”
“Helena helped me hide the pregnancy.”
“She arranged the adoption.”
“Years later, she helped Graham get his first position with the Sterling family.”
Graham stared at Helena.
“My entire career.”
Helena said nothing.
Margaret looked at Claire.
“I put the oil on the stairs.”
Lucas moved forward.
Mason stopped him.
Claire’s breath caught.
“Did Helena tell you to kill me.”
Margaret shook her head violently.
“No.”
“She told me to make you fall.”
“She said you would lose the baby.”
The room went silent.
Claire pressed a hand protectively over her daughter.
Mason turned toward Helena.
Helena finally spoke.
“You cannot prove I said that.”
Margaret reached into her bag.
“Yes.”
“I can.”
May you like
She removed a small recorder.
And pressed play.
