Chapter 5 - THE MONEY ELENA TOOK.
Elena admitted taking the money after Margaret threatened to have her younger brother deported and evict three retired employees from staff housing.
“I thought silence could buy them time.”
Rosa answered, “It bought Margaret three more years.”
Elena placed the settlement, with interest, under court control and surrendered any claim to lead the investigation.
Adrian refused Margaret’s demand to treat Elena as the only criminal.
“You created desperation, then planned to blame the desperate woman.”
The audit showed Margaret had used the household fund to finance the family hotel expansion, Sophie’s private school deposit and Adrian’s corporate bonuses.
Adrian ordered every benefit connected to him frozen.
Then Thomas surrendered the cellar access log.
He had locked Elena inside after receiving a command from someone using Claire’s security code.
Claire was still confined in Richmond at the time.
The message said: KEEP ELENA BELOW UNTIL ADRIAN SEES THE LOCKET.
Adrian looked at Claire on the screen.
She whispered, “I never sent that.”
May you like
Sophie touched her own locket.
A faint voice began playing from inside it.
