Chapter 10 - The Shadow in the Frame
"I know you're in here, you little monster," Claire whispered, her voice ragged and unhinged. She stepped into the room, her black heels clicking sharply against the bare wood as she moved toward the desk.
Lily stayed completely motionless in the deep shadow beneath the mahogany desk, her small knees pulled tight against her chest. She watched Claire’s legs move past her hiding spot. Claire reached out, her hands frantically searching the top of the desk in the dark until her fingers brushed against the open leather journal and the silver key resting beside it.
"Found it," Claire hissed, a manic laugh escaping her throat as she grabbed the journal and the key. "Your mother thought she was so clever... but a dead woman can't testify in court."
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Before Claire could turn toward the door, the main overhead lights of Room 17 snapped on with a bright, blinding flash.
Claire spun around, shading her eyes against the sudden glare. Standing in the doorway was Ethan, dressed in dark trousers and a black shirt, flanked by two armed estate security officers and the local chief of police. Ethan’s face was an impenetrable wall of cold steel, his deep blue eyes locking onto the leather journal clutched in Claire’s hands.
