The Heiress Camille Threw Into the Pool

Sophie didn't move toward the door.

She moved toward the study window.

Margaret had already drawn the curtains, but through a narrow gap Sophie could see a black sedan parked at the curb and a second vehicle blocking the driveway. Two men stood near the front steps.

Victor was between them.

He wasn't holding a weapon, but his expression was unfamiliar. The patient, dependable adviser who had helped Sophie negotiate international acquisitions had disappeared. In his place stood a man who looked as though he had been waiting years for this moment.

“Margaret,” Sophie whispered, “is there another exit?””

“The kitchen opens onto the garden.””

“Can we reach it without going through the hallway?””

Margaret nodded toward a narrow door behind the bookshelves.

“My husband used it when he wanted to avoid visitors.””

Sophie almost smiled at the absurdity of the detail.

Then someone struck the study door.

“Miss Morel,” Victor called.

“Please open the door.””

Sophie slipped the notebook inside her coat.

“Tell me why you're here, Victor.””

“Your father is worried about you.””

“Then he can call me.””

“He has called you. You haven't answered.””

“Because I'm busy discovering why he paid Richard Laurent nearly five million dollars after my mother's death.””

Silence.

Then Victor said, “You don't understand the payment.””

“Everyone keeps saying that. Perhaps someone should try explaining it.””

“Not here.””

“Why not?””

“Because the people who sent you those documents are listening.””

Sophie glanced at Margaret.

The older woman shook her head sharply, warning her not to trust him.

Victor continued.

“Your mother discovered a financial network that involved people far beyond Laurent Estates. If those records become public without context, innocent employees and beneficiaries could lose everything.””

“Were you involved?””

A pause.

“No.””

“Did you know my mother was going to Ashcombe House the night she died?””

Another pause.

“Yes.””

Sophie felt her stomach tighten.

“How?””

“Adrian told me.””

“Before or after the accident?””

Victor didn't answer.

“Victor.””

“Before.””

Margaret covered her mouth.

Sophie gripped the phone.

“You knew she was going to meet Richard, and you did nothing?””

“I advised Adrian to stop her.””

“Why?””

“Because she had discovered that the money was connected to a private account, and the people behind it were dangerous.””

“Who were they?””

“I don't know.””

Sophie laughed bitterly.

“That's convenient.””

“It's the truth.””

“Then tell me why you're at Margaret's house.””

“Because your father asked me to retrieve the notebook.””

“Why?””

“Because it contains a reference to the original account.””

Sophie looked down at the worn cover.

“What account?””

“The one your mother believed belonged to the person who arranged the transfers.””

“And who is that person?””

Victor's voice dropped.

“That's what the missing page would tell us.””

A cold silence settled over the study.

Sophie stared at the notebook.

The last page had been torn out years earlier. Margaret had preserved the remaining pages, but the most important piece of evidence was gone.

“Who took it?”” Sophie asked.

“I don't know,” Victor replied.

“Did you?””

“No.””

“Did my father?””

“I don't know.””

“Did Richard Laurent?””

“I don't know, Sophie.””

She closed her eyes.

Every answer was a wall.

Behind her, Margaret whispered, “He's lying.””

Victor heard her.

“Margaret, please. This is not the time.””

“You told me Eleanor was safe,” Margaret shouted through the door.

“You told me Adrian had arranged protection for her. Then she died on a road where no one could explain how her car left the highway.””

Victor's voice hardened.

“I never told you she was safe.””

“You told me someone was watching over her.””

“I told you we were trying to protect the family.””

“And you let me believe that meant Eleanor.””

There was a sharp silence.

Sophie looked at Margaret.

“What does he mean?””

Margaret's eyes filled with tears.

“After the accident, Victor came to see me. He said the family would investigate quietly. He said I should leave the police to their work.””

“And you believed him?””

“I wanted to.””

A heavy thud struck the door.

Victor's voice rose.

“Margaret, open the door. We can resolve this without making things worse.””

Sophie stepped closer to the door.

“No. You can explain everything from there.””

“Your father is in danger.””

“From whom?””

“From the people who arranged your mother's death.””

“Then help us identify them.””

“I am trying.””

“No. You're trying to take the notebook.””

Victor said nothing.

Sophie turned to Margaret.

“Let's go.””

They slipped through the narrow door behind the bookshelves and entered a small passage leading toward the kitchen. Margaret moved surprisingly quickly for a woman in her seventies, gripping the banister as she descended two shallow steps.

At the kitchen door, Sophie paused.

She could hear the men moving through the study.

A drawer slammed.

Then Victor shouted, “Where is it?””

Margaret flinched.

Sophie opened the door and led her into the garden.

They crossed the wet grass toward a detached garage at the rear of the property. Margaret kept a spare key beneath a flowerpot. Inside, an old car sat beneath a dusty cover.

“Can you drive?”” Sophie asked.

“Not this car. It hasn't run in years.””

Sophie pulled out her phone.

She called Daniel Reeves, the Laurent Estates associate who had defended her at the party.

He answered after two rings.

“Miss Morel?””

“I need help.””

“Where are you?””

“Margaret Whitmore's house. Victor Hale has arrived with security and is trying to take evidence connected to my mother's death.””

Daniel went silent.

“Daniel?””

“I need to tell you something.””

“What?””

“I saw Victor at Laurent Estates last week. He was in Richard's office after everyone else had left.””

“Why didn't you mention that before?””

“Because I didn't know it mattered. I thought they were discussing the acquisition.””

“Did you hear anything?””

“Yes.””

Sophie waited.

Daniel swallowed.

“Richard said, 'The original is still missing.'' Victor answered, 'It won't be a problem once Sophie signs.''”

Sophie stared into the darkness beyond the garage.

“Signs what?””

“The acquisition agreement.””

Her heart sank.

The entire transaction might have been more than a financial deal. Someone could have been using the acquisition to gain access to the original records, the private trust, or the hidden account.

“Daniel, I need you to send me everything you know about that meeting.””

“I will. But there's something else.””

“What?””

“Camille was there, too.””

Sophie frowned.

“Camille?””

“She was arguing with Richard. She said she didn't want anything to do with the old account. Richard told her she had already benefited from it.””

Sophie remembered Camille's arrogance, her expensive jewelry, and the way she had treated the staff as though they were disposable.

“What did Camille say?””

Daniel lowered his voice.

“She said, 'I never asked you to use her money to build my life.''”

Sophie went still.

“Whose money?””

“I don't know.””

Before she could ask another question, headlights swept across the garage walls.

A car had entered the driveway.

Margaret looked through the narrow window.

“It's Richard.””

Sophie ended the call.

Outside, a vehicle stopped near the kitchen entrance. Richard Laurent stepped out alone, his coat open and his hair disheveled.

He looked toward the garage.

“Sophie,” he called.

“I know you're in there.””

She remained silent.

Richard walked closer.

“Victor has no authority to take that notebook. I came to stop him.””

“Why should I believe you?””

“Because I know what happened to your mother.””

Sophie tightened her grip on the notebook.

“Then tell me.””

Richard looked toward the house.

“Your mother wasn't killed because of the money.””

Margaret closed her eyes.

Richard continued.

“She was killed because she discovered that the person controlling the account had been using your family's name for years. She intended to expose him at Ashcombe House.””

“Who was it?””

Richard's face twisted with something that looked like shame.

“Someone who knew every detail of the Morel family business. Someone who could move money without attracting attention. Someone who knew your mother's schedule.””

Sophie stepped out of the garage.

“Who?””

Richard looked directly at her.

“Victor Hale.””

The name hung in the air.

From the house, a door slammed.

Then came the sound of running footsteps.

Victor appeared at the edge of the garden, his face illuminated by the headlights.

He looked at Richard.

Then at Sophie.

And smiled.

“I'm sorry,” he said quietly.