Chapter 5 - The Architect of the Fire
"What are you saying?" Lily asked, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as the implication of Clara's question settled over her.
Clara turned away, hugging her arms tightly around her chest as she paced toward the small, barred window overlooking the alley. The city lights cast harsh, fractured shadows across her face.
"I’m saying that power makes monsters out of people," Clara said, her voice trembling. "When grandfather died, the estate was supposed to be split evenly among his children. But Marianne—your mother—was the favorite. She was smart, independent, and grandfather’s clear choice to take over the philanthropic foundation. Uncle Marcus was furious. He was deep in gambling debts and bad business ventures back then. He needed total control."
"And you think he set the fire?" Lily demanded, stepping up behind Clara. "You think he tried to burn down the nursery to get rid of a toddler?"
"I think Marcus is capable of anything," Clara replied bitterly, turning to face Lily with dark circles under her eyes. "The night of the fire, the security logs for the East Wing were wiped clean. The estate’s night watchman was suddenly given a paid vacation. And Marcus was the only one in the main house who claimed he smelled smoke before the alarms went off."
Lily’s mind raced, connecting the terrifying dots. "If Marcus knew she survived—if he knew she was smuggled out and hidden in the foster system—why didn't he finish the job?"
"Because he didn't need to," Clara said grimly. "A baby dumped into the foster system without a name, without birth records, and without a penny is completely powerless. He thought she would disappear forever. But he didn't count on one thing."
"What?"
"The locket," Clara whispered, pointing toward Lily’s chest. "That locket was a custom piece made by grandfather for Marianne’s first birthday. It has a hidden dual compartment. Most people only saw the photo and the crest. But grandmother told me once... she told me that the inner lining holds the family vault key code and a notarized birth registry page."
Lily’s hand flew to her collarbone, feeling the cold weight of the silver trinket resting against her skin. "A key code? To what?"
"To the original safety deposit box at the First National Bank downtown," Clara said urgently. "Inside is the unamended will and proof of lineage that Marcus spent thirty-five years trying to bury. If Marcus finds out you have that locket intact—if he realizes what’s inside—he won’t just fire you or threaten you, Lily. He will eliminate you."
Before Lily could process the sheer scale of the danger, a sharp, metallic sound echoed from outside the apartment door.
Clack.
May you like
It was the distinct sound of a lock tumbling. Someone was picking the deadbolt.
Clara’s face drained of all remaining color. She lunged forward, grabbing Lily’s arm with bone-crushing strength. "They’re here."
