Chapter 2 - THE HOUSE SURROUNDED
The first police vehicle broke through the mansion gates less than three minutes later.
Then came another.
And another.
Red and blue lights flashed across the towering windows of Whitmore Manor.
Margaret rushed toward the front doors.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Detective Adrian Cole entered before anyone could stop him.
He was followed by uniformed officers, paramedics, and two investigators carrying evidence cases.
“No one leaves the property,” Cole announced.
Charles Whitmore stepped forward.
“This is my home.”
“You cannot storm in here without cause.”
Cole removed a folded document from his coat.
“This is a search warrant.”
Charles stared at the paper.
His confidence faded when he recognized the judge’s signature.
The paramedics knelt beside Emma.
One of them carefully checked her breathing and asked where she felt pain.
“My baby,” Emma said.
“Please check my baby.”
“We’re taking care of both of you.”
Daniel moved closer, but an officer blocked him.
“That is my wife,” Daniel said.
“Then you should have helped her when she fell,” Cole replied.
Daniel flinched.
Vanessa descended the staircase slowly.
Her face was composed again.
“This is a misunderstanding.”
“Emma attacked me.”
“I have a witness.”
She pointed toward Rosa.
The maid’s lips parted, but no words came out.
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“Tell them what you saw.”
Rosa lowered her eyes.
“I saw them arguing.”
“And then?” Vanessa demanded.
“I saw Mrs. Emma fall.”
“You saw her attack me first.”
Rosa’s breathing became shallow.
Cole stepped between them.
“You will not question the witness.”
“She works for my family,” Vanessa said.
“Not tonight.”
An officer guided Rosa into a separate room.
Another officer ordered the relatives away from the staircase.
Investigators began photographing every step, the railing, and the place where Emma had landed.
As the paramedics lifted Emma onto a stretcher, she reached for Cole’s sleeve.
“The camera,” she whispered.
Cole leaned closer.
“What camera?”
“The antique clock in the upstairs hall.”
“I installed it after Vanessa threatened me.”
Vanessa heard her.
Her face changed.
Cole immediately turned toward two investigators.
“Secure the upstairs hall.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“There is no camera.”
Emma stared at her from the stretcher.
“You searched my bedroom.”
“You searched my office.”
“But you never looked inside the clock your grandmother gave me.”
Daniel looked from Emma to Vanessa.
“What threat is she talking about?”
Vanessa ignored him.
She tried to move toward the staircase, but an officer stopped her.
Cole’s phone rang moments later.
He answered and listened.
Then he looked directly at Vanessa.
“We found the camera.”
Vanessa’s hands curled into fists.
Cole continued listening.
His expression became grim.
“And we found something else hidden behind it.”
Charles Whitmore went still.
Emma saw fear pass between Charles and Vanessa.
That was when she understood.
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The staircase attack had not only exposed Vanessa.
It had frightened the head of the family.
