Chapter 10 - Owen Price
Owen Price did not deny programming awning.
But his explanation was unexpected.
“I thought it would stop before frame.”
“Safety limiter had been disabled.”
“I didn’t disable it.”
“Then why trigger it?”
“To scare Michael.”
Victor stared.
Owen had discovered fake glazier was Thomas Bell’s grandson.
He knew Michael was tampering with window.
Instead of reporting, Owen decided catch him.
He took Claire’s tablet so command would appear under her account.
Why frame Claire?
“I wasn’t framing her. I planned to delete command after.”
“That is framing.”
Owen looked ashamed.
He scheduled awning to retract while Michael was expected outside at 10:30.
But timer showed 2:12.
Why?
Owen claimed he entered 10:30.
Someone altered schedule afterward.
Logs confirmed.
Original command:
10:30.
Edited at 11:48:
14:12.
Who edited?
Margaret legacy account.
From security terminal.
Owen was at police? Not yet.
At 11:48 Owen had left mansion.
Claire was with Lily’s tutor.
Anna kitchen.
Victor office.
Who accessed terminal?
Camera had been manually turned toward wall.
Fingerprints:
Daniel Bennett.
But Daniel was supposedly London.
Travel records rechecked.
His return flight landed that morning at 8:05.
He had lied.
He was inside mansion by 11:30 through private garage.
Victor called.
Daniel did not answer.
Police found him at family apartment downtown.
He surrendered.
“Did you change awning time?”
“Yes.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You knew Lily would be there.”
“No.”
“Claire put her there.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Why change timer?”
“I wanted glass to break while everyone was present.”
“Why?”
“To force Dad to investigate.”
Victor stared at son.
“You risked your niece.”
Daniel began crying.
“I thought pane had safety laminate.”
It did not.
He assumed new renovation glass was laminated.
A catastrophic assumption.
Why force investigation?
Because Michael contacted Daniel months earlier with Thomas archive.
Daniel dismissed him.
Then Michael sent evidence Margaret falsified placements.
Daniel feared public scandal.
He tried suppressing.
But discovered something worse.
One 1998 placement file bore Victor’s electronic predecessor signature.
Victor insisted he never signed.
Daniel thought father lied.
He wanted incident exposed in controlled way?
This is shaky. Better Daniel changed timer to expose Michael and catch him on camera when family present? Yet risk. Let's refine: Daniel wanted glass break when sunroom empty at 2:12 because scheduled housekeeping break, believed Lily at nap and Claire charity call. But Claire changed routine and seated Lily there. He did not know. Still reckless. Why 2:12? Wanted evidence of Michael's cut after impact. He thought safety film contained shards. Renovation records said laminate but contractor installed tempered-only due unauthorized substitution. Ah layered failure.
Daniel changed timer to 2:12 when sunroom normally empty, intending force scored pane to crack so he could confront Michael and expose old archive without police? Reckless.
Victor asked:
“Why not tell me?”
Daniel answered familiar disease:
“I wanted proof first.”
Victor almost laughed from pain.
Every secret began that way.
Then Daniel revealed:
“I wasn’t trying to hide Mom’s foster placements.”
“What were you hiding?”
“One child was never legally discharged.”
Placement C-17.
May you like
Caroline Mason.
Claire.
