Chapter 11: The Secret Ally
Back at the estate, the police tape stretched yellow and glaring across the grand double doors of the foyer. Inside, two forensics officers in white jumpsuits were methodically scraping metal shavings from the second-story balcony brackets into evidence bags. Sergeant Vance stood near the base of the stairs, shining a high-powered tactical flashlight along the intricate wrought-iron scrollwork, searching for anomalies that standard dusting might miss.
A soft rustle from the shadows near the staff corridor caught his attention. Vance swept the beam of his flashlight sideways, illuminating Chloe standing frozen against the wall. The young maid looked even paler than she had earlier that afternoon, her grey and white uniform wrinkled, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her apron.
""You're supposed to be in the staff quarters, miss,"" Vance said, lowering his flashlight slightly so it didn't blind her.
Chloe took two hesitant steps forward, the light catching the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes. She looked around the cavernous foyer as if expecting Eleanor to materialize from the marble columns at any second. When she spoke, her voice was barely a trembling breath.
""I can't stay in my room,"" Chloe whispered, her eyes darting toward the second-story landing. ""If she knows I talked to you... she'll ruin my family. She owns my mother’s medical debt, Sergeant. She owns everything.""
Vance stepped closer, his demeanor shifting from official investigator to protective mentor. He kept his voice low and steady. ""Nobody owns you here, Chloe. Not while I'm standing in this house. Did Mrs. Vance threaten you?""
Chloe let out a choked sob, nodding vigorously. ""Not today. Not directly. But I saw her this morning. Before Mr. and Mrs. Vance came down for breakfast. I was dusting the upper landing, and Mrs. Vance... she was kneeling by the balcony railing with a small electric grinding tool. She was cutting right through the main support bolt.""
Vance’s eyes narrowed, his professional instincts locking onto the confession like a hound on a scent. ""Did she see you?""
""She caught me,"" Chloe shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to ward off a sudden chill. ""She looked right at me with those cold eyes and said that if I ever wanted my mother’s hospital bills paid, or if I ever wanted to work another day in this state, I would keep my mouth shut and swear it was an accident when the railing gave way.""
""Do you know where she keeps that tool?"" Vance asked sharply.
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""In the basement workshop, behind the old wine cellar,"" Chloe replied, her voice gaining a desperate strength. ""She keeps a private locker down there. Only she has the key.""
Vance pulled out his radio, keying the mic with a quiet click. ""Davis, get down to the basement workshop. Search behind the wine cellar for a locked metal cabinet. Bring me whatever’s inside.""
