Chapter 10 - Sarah’s Missing Twenty Minutes
Sarah had omitted twenty minutes.
Before entering villa, she met someone behind detached garage.
Mason Pike.
Not because she knew him personally.
He contacted her claiming evidence Richard planned destroy financial records.
He offered access basement.
Sarah agreed.
Terrible judgment.
She wanted red ledger.
Mason showed her damaged service corridor and claimed Richard intended illegal destruction of records during scheduled renovation.
Sarah entered basement briefly.
She photographed boxes.
Then left to monitor Emily.
“What happened to Mason?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you see him prepare explosion?”
“No.”
“Did you touch anything?”
“No.”
Investigators verified some through phone geolocation and photos.
Sarah had been in basement.
But no evidence she caused blast.
Mason remained missing.
Richard blamed Sarah because she had opportunity.
Sarah blamed Richard because he hired Mason.
Both plausible.
Then police found Mason alive at motel.
He surrendered.
His account:
Richard hired him unofficially to remove several basement file cabinets before demolition.
Mason suspected records related financial misconduct.
He contacted Sarah after finding her name in files.
He hoped get paid for evidence? Not noble. He wanted leverage.
On explosion night, Mason entered basement earlier and removed one cabinet.
He denied setting blast.
Investigators found no direct evidence he did.
Who did?
Mason said when he left, Richard entered basement alone.
He saw Richard carrying small black case.
Again avoid operational detail.
Richard remained prime suspect.
Then Daniel asked about exact explosion timing.
Forensic reconstruction placed blast seconds after Emily threw inert grenade.
Could Richard have intentionally timed that?
Maybe he watched confrontation and activated something at moment to frame her.
Security logs showed basement control panel accessed remotely at 12:17:08.
Blast at 12:17:11.
Access originated from device registered to Richard.
That was strong.
But device?
His phone.
Found later on wooded path.
Richard had it during blast.
Thus likely Richard triggered event.
Why?
He saw Emily throw grenade.
Instant opportunity.
If explosion followed, everyone would blame Emily.
It could kill her, destroy records, generate insurance claim and make family believe unstable daughter finally snapped.
One action solved multiple problems.
Except family was still nearby.
Would Richard risk wife and daughters?
Daniel thought yes.
Margaret refused believe.
Claire did.
“He would.”
Emily said nothing.
Then Richard was arrested at private airfield before leaving state.
No dramatic shootout.
He surrendered after officers surrounded vehicle.
During interrogation with counsel, he denied triggering blast.
Investigators showed device log.
Richard smiled.
“My phone wasn't in my possession.”
“Who had it?”
“Emily.”
Impossible? Emily didn't.
Then:
“Claire.”
Claire denied.
Phone footage from earlier evening showed Richard place phone on dining table.
Claire picked it up briefly to take selfie? Could access.
But control required? No procedural.
Could Claire have caused blast accidentally or intentionally?
Claire panicked.
“I didn't even know there was anything to trigger!”
Digital experts found command sent through authenticated session established hours earlier.
Someone could have scheduled/queued action? We need avoid technical details.
Then hidden camera footage supplied answer partly.
At 12:16:58, Richard looked directly toward dining room camera.
He reached into pocket.
His hand moved.
At 12:17:08 system command.
Blast.
He lied.
Prosecutors had strong circumstantial/digital case.
Richard finally stopped pretending.
“I wanted records gone.”
“Did you intend kill Emily?”
“No.”
“You triggered blast with family in room.”
“I thought they'd make it outside.”
“In three seconds?”
Richard said nothing.
Daniel realized opportunity wasn't spontaneous.
Richard knew Claire would torment Emily.
He expected confrontation move family toward foyer/exit.
But grenade shocked everyone and timing went wrong.
Richard had gambled lives.
Then he said something chilling:
“Emily wasn't supposed to be downstairs.”
But his own message told Claire ensure she came downstairs after midnight.
Daniel showed him.
Richard stared.
“I didn't send that.”
Forensics revisited message.
It came from his account.
But was scheduled earlier? Could still.
Someone else had access.
The case was not closed.
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And Claire suddenly remembered father wasn't only person who knew his phone password.
Margaret did.
