Chapter 8 - THE SECOND HAND NEAR THE GLASS.
A second recording from the ballroom ceiling camera showed another person approaching Richard’s table before Elena arrived.
The person wore white gloves and carried a silver water pitcher.
Only staff members were supposed to wear gloves.
Nathan immediately pointed at Sophie.
“You filmed Elena because you needed a distraction.”
Elena’s fear turned into cruel relief.
“There. The ambitious server finally overplayed her little tragedy.”
The guests looked at Sophie differently again.
One new image was enough to revive every class prejudice the evidence had briefly silenced.
A poor young woman with access to the table seemed more suspicious than executives already caught stealing millions.
Sophie remained still.
“Play the full recording.”
The gloved figure poured water, adjusted the stemmed glass, and turned toward the camera.
It was not Sophie.
It was Claire Hale, Richard and Nathan’s mother.
Claire had been sitting at the head table all evening, publicly frail and withdrawn.
She now rose without assistance.
Richard stared at her.
“Mother?”
Claire removed the white gloves from her purse.
She admitted placing the unknown liquid in his glass but said it was never meant to harm him.
It was intended to make his hands shake during the vote.
She wanted the board to believe he was unfit.
Richard whispered, “You chose Nathan.”
Claire answered:
“I chose the son willing to protect the family from servants with ledgers.”
May you like
Then Sophie recognized Claire’s gloves.
Maria Lane had been wearing the same pair the night she was accused of theft.
