Chapter 5 - THE FRAMEElena laughed once.
Not because anything was funny.
Because sometimes disbelief sounded like laughter.
“That’s impossible.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Her voice cracked.
“Because five minutes ago your fiancée accused me of stealing millions. Now your security system says I erased evidence.”
Damian stepped inside.
“I said I know.”
Mia watched them nervously.
Elena lowered her voice.
“Then prove it.”
Damian nodded.
“We will.”
Marcus arrived with a laptop.
“The deletion came from terminal HK-2,” he said. “Housekeeping office. Elena’s badge logged in at 9:12 this morning.”
“I was with Mia.”
“Anyone see you?”
Elena went silent.
Damian’s jaw tightened.
“Careful, Marcus.”
“I’m not accusing her. I’m building a timeline.”
Mia raised her hand.
Everyone looked at her.
“I saw Mama.”
Marcus almost smiled.
“At nine-twelve?”
Mia frowned.
“I don't know that number.”
“Fair enough.”
Elena thought quickly.
“The daycare camera.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I took Mia there at nine twenty. It will show us leaving the cottage.”
He typed.
Then stopped.
“What?”
“The daycare camera went offline at 8:57.”
Elena felt the cold spread through her chest.
Someone wasn't improvising.
Someone had planned this.
Marcus opened another file.
Two more entries had been made using Elena’s badge while she had been off the property.
“My badge was copied.”
“Looks like it.”
Damian’s phone rang.
His attorney.
He listened.
Then said:
“Freeze access first. Don't file anything yet.”
Elena watched him.
“What now?”
Damian looked at her.
“Northstar Consulting is registered to Owen Hale.”
Elena frowned.
“Vanessa's brother?”
“She told me she was an only child.”
Marcus searched the name.
A criminal record appeared.
“Damian.”
“What?”
“Owen Hale. Convicted of wire fraud eight years ago. Served twenty-two months.”
Damian stared at the screen.
Elena whispered:
“So she lied about her family.”
Marcus shook his head.
“That isn't the worst part.”
He opened another record.
“Owen Hale entered the United States three days ago.”
Damian’s eyes narrowed.
“Where is he staying?”
Marcus checked the address.
May you like
Then looked up.
“Less than ten miles from the estate.”
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