Chapter 5 - Whispers in the Dark
“You’re alive,” Sarah whispered, setting Lily down on a cracked wooden bench near the prep table. Her heart raced so fast she felt faint.
“Barely,” Clara said grimly, locking the heavy deadbolt behind them. She turned her sharp gaze to the bruised cut across Sarah’s cheekbone. “Arthur and your sister tried to stage an accident when I refused to doctor your mother’s final testament. Since then, I’ve been living as a ghost, gathering evidence.”
Clara reached into a leather satchel and pulled out an insulated thermos of warm broth, handing it to Lily along with a clean dry towel. Lily accepted it timidly, her eyes wide with lingering fear.
“Why now, Clara? Why did you come out of hiding?” Sarah asked, rubbing her aching ribs.
“Because Bianca returned to town yesterday,” Clara said, leaning against the counter. “They are finalizing the probate claim tomorrow morning at the county courthouse. Arthur plans to present forged affidavits claiming you abandoned Lily due to psychiatric instability. If the judge approves, Arthur gets legal conservatorship, and Bianca gets full access to the trust fund.”
Sarah felt the room spin. Everything was a calculated ambush. They had deliberately provoked her tonight, battered her, and called the police so she would be arrested on charges that would make her look like an unstable fugitive.
“I have the medical records, Clara,” Sarah said fiercely. “I have proof I’ve been Lily’s sole provider!”
“It’s not enough,” Clara replied. “Arthur bought off Judge Miller. If you show up alone, you’ll be arrested at the courthouse steps. But I have a digital copy of the original trust stored on a secure server.”
May you like
Clara pulled out an encrypted flash drive.
Suddenly, the diner’s electricity flickered and died. Outside, the low, throbbing rumble of a heavy V8 engine idled right beside the back door.
