Chapter 14 - THE SISTER
Vivian's car was found near a private airfield, but she had never boarded the plane.
Her phone signal led police back toward the Callahan estate.
Grant refused to believe she had helped Renata until Caleb showed him the bank transfers. Vivian had paid Aaron Pike through a consulting company. She had also authorized the administrator account that erased the garage footage.
"Why?" Grant asked.
The answer arrived in a scheduled email Vivian sent to him.
You were always Father's chosen heir. Margaret was going to expose the contracts and destroy the family name. I helped Thomas contain the damage. I did not know Renata would kill her. By the time I understood, it was too late.
The email ended with a demand: Grant must resign and transfer his voting authority to Vivian, or she would release edited video making it appear that Emma had abused Lily.
Renata had prepared the footage months earlier.
"She planned to remove anyone Lily trusted," Dr. Morris said.
A security alarm sounded at the cottage.
The rear officer did not answer his radio.
I locked Lily in the bathroom with Dr. Morris and grabbed the heavy fireplace poker. The front door opened slowly.
Vivian entered alone.
She wore no makeup and looked nothing like the polished woman from the gala.
"I am not here to hurt her," she said.
"Then stay back."
Vivian held up a memory card. "This contains the unedited garage footage. I kept it as insurance. Renata knows I have it. She escaped during a courthouse transfer twenty minutes ago."
Sirens sounded in the distance.
"Where is she going?" I asked.
Vivian looked toward the main house.
"The ballroom. She hid a copy of Margaret's files beneath the stage. If she cannot own the Callahan empire, she plans to burn it down."
May you like
A flash of orange appeared through the cottage window.
Smoke rose from the mansion roof.
