Chapter 4 - The Basement Truth
Lab results confirmed the stain on Lily’s hoodie:
Fire-suppression chemical residue from Claire’s office basement.
Lily’s statement was simple:
“I crawled down there. I saw boxes.”
Inside those boxes:
Tenant complaints marked CLOSED WITHOUT ACTION
Photographs taken by Rachel before her death
One image showed Robert removing smoke detectors before an inspection.
Claire dismissed it.
“They were faulty.”
A former tenant, Maria Ruiz, stepped forward.
“My son almost died in a fire because those ‘faulty’ alarms were never replaced.”
Claire didn’t blink.
“People like you turn accidents into lawsuits.”
Maria’s voice broke but held firm:
“People like you call it an accident after cashing our rent checks.”
Police reopened Rachel’s death.
Officially: a highway accident.
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But surveillance showed a vehicle following her.
It belonged to Daniel.
