Chapter 5 - SOFIA'S FILE
Alonzo sat down hard on the vault bench.
He had spent three years believing Sofia died because someone ran a red light.
Eleanor’s letter said otherwise.
Sofia came to me two weeks before her accident. She had evidence that Vale Strategic Partners was paying shell vendors through Blackwood accounts. She feared someone inside our legal department was helping them.
Alonzo’s hands shook.
Maisie had been three when her mother died.
“She knew?” he whispered.
Cedric said, “Alonzo...”
“Your mother knew my wife was scared and never told me?”
“She may have been trying to protect you.”
“Everybody keeps calling silence protection.”
Cedric had no answer.
Mara copied the documents.
Then she asked the bank manager for access records.
One failed attempt appeared six months earlier.
The person had presented forged authorization from Eleanor’s estate.
The attorney listed on the paperwork was Martin Shaw.
Cedric’s phone rang.
Flora answered because Cedric was still reading.
Her face went pale.
“What?” Cedric asked.
“The estate.”
“What about it?”
“There’s smoke in the east wing.”
Cedric ran.
By the time they returned, firefighters were already outside.
The fire had started in Eleanor’s old study.
Exactly where her remaining files were stored.
Graham claimed he had been in the ballroom the entire time.
Portia said the same.
Martin had disappeared from police supervision during the confusion.
Mara stared at the burning windows.
“He ran from the wedding and now your evidence room catches fire.”
Alonzo looked at the security feeds.
One camera showed Martin entering the east hallway.
Another showed a second person behind him.
May you like
A woman in a veil.
Portia.
