Chapter 3 - The Stamped Dossier
The red label stamped across Arthur's manila folder read 'CONFISCATED,' a federal seal that commanded absolute authority. The murmurs of the wealthy guests turned into panicked whispers as realization began to ripple through the ballroom. Beatrice stood paralyzed, her hands hovering uselessly in the air, while Eleanor stood protectively in front of Lily, shielding the child from the sudden chaos.
"Arthur, you fool," Beatrice hissed, her voice cracking as she took a desperate step toward the lawyer. "You were supposed to intercept those documents before they ever reached county records!"
"I tried," Arthur replied, panting as he walked deeper into the hall, ignoring the stares of the elite onlookers. "The federal investigators moved faster than we anticipated. They found the discrepancies in the estate's offshore accounts dating back to the night of the fire. The audit isn't just about financial fraud, Beatrice. It's about the property transfer."
Eleanor's eyes widened slightly as the pieces of the puzzle violently snapped into place in her mind. "The fire. The night Lily's parents supposedly died in that tragic accident. It wasn't an accident at all, was it?"
Arthur refused to meet Eleanor's gaze, looking down at the polished marble floor instead. "I was just the legal counsel, Eleanor. I only filed the paperwork I was given to sign."
"Paperwork forged with stolen signatures," a new, resonant voice echoed from the doorway.
Everyone turned to see Detective Vance stepping out of the shadows of the vestibule, flanked by two uniformed officers. The detective's sharp gaze swept over the opulent ballroom, taking in the spilled wine, the ruined white dress, and the panicked expressions of the elite guests holding their phones high.
"Nobody leaves this room," Detective Vance instructed calmly, flashing his badge. "We have a warrant to search every person and every room in this estate, starting with the private vault behind the grand portrait."
Beatrice stepped backward, her green evening gown rustling loudly in the quiet hall. "You have no jurisdiction here without a specific judicial order signed by a superior judge."
"I have the signature right here," Detective Vance said, holding up a folded piece of heavy parchment. "Signed thirty minutes ago by Judge Harrison. It turns out the federal government has been investigating this household's charitable foundation for months. And the trail leads directly to the white dress Lily is wearing right now."
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Lily clutched the damp cloth tighter, her small frame trembling as Detective Vance walked slowly toward her.
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