Chapter 4 - The Whitmore Estate Library
Inside the sprawling Gothic library of the Whitmore Estate, bookshelves soared twenty feet high, illuminated by the warm, amber glow of a massive stone fireplace.
Lily sat curled up in a deep leather armchair, wrapped in a plush wool blanket. A steaming mug of hot chocolate sat untouched on the mahogany table beside her. Across the room, Arthur Whitmore paced slowly near the window, speaking in hushed tones into a secure satellite phone.
"Yes, Judge Miller," Arthur said firmly. "I want a full asset-freezing injunction placed on all Langford-controlled accounts before the financial markets open tomorrow morning. We cannot give them time to liquidate."
He clicked off the phone and walked over to Lily, kneeling beside her chair with a tender, grandfatherly smile.
"How are you holding up, sweetheart?" Arthur asked softly.
"I want to know where my mom's purse came from," Lily whispered, her large blue eyes reflecting the flickering flames of the fireplace. "If Victoria had it... that means she saw my mom. She knows what happened."
"She's going to tell us, Lily. The police and my legal team are tearing through their records right now," Arthur assured her, gently patting her hand. "Your mother was a brilliant woman. When she worked with our foundation years ago, she was always meticulous about compliance and honesty. It breaks my heart to know what she went through."
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors of the library swung open.
A private security guard rushed inside, looking flustered. "Mr. Whitmore, you have a visitor at the gate. An elderly gentleman claiming to have documentation regarding the Vance case. He refused to state his name to the gatehouse intercom, but he displayed this."
May you like
The guard held out a small, tarnished silver lapel pin shaped like an anchor.
Arthur’s eyes widened in sudden recognition. "My God... let him in immediately. That pin belonged to Clara’s father—former Chief Maritime Inspector Vance."
