Chapter 12 - Celeste's Second Job
Julian stared at Celeste.
She could not hold his eyes.
“Say it clearly.”
“He planned a mechanical failure.”
“On my plane.”
“Yes.”
“After marrying you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Emergency spousal authority.”
The room went silent.
Julian looked at the engagement ring.
Celeste covered it with her hand.
Mara felt no satisfaction.
Only disgust.
Julian said, “You agreed?”
“No.”
“You stayed engaged.”
“I was trying to find a way out.”
“You planted a bracelet on Mara three hours ago.”
“I know.”
“You deleted footage.”
“I know.”
“You tried to access Margaret’s vault.”
“I know.”
“And you want me to believe you planned to save me.”
Celeste cried.
“I wanted the wedding called off without Graham knowing I told you.”
Mara said, “So you framed me.”
Celeste looked at her.
“I thought if Julian fired you, Graham would stop panicking.”
Mara laughed.
“You destroy women when you get scared.”
Celeste flinched.
Accurate.
Ethan opened Graham’s flight files.
Maintenance contractor.
Shell company.
Payment scheduled two days before departure.
Julian called federal investigators.
This was no longer family business.
Celeste removed her ring.
Placed it on the table.
“I’m sorry.”
Julian did not touch it.
Mara almost admired that.
No speech.
No closure.
Just evidence.
Celeste gave them Graham’s messages.
THE MARRIAGE ONLY MATTERS IF YOU GET SIGNATURE ACCESS.
GET INTO RICHARD’S STUDY.
FIND THE SAFE.
LOCATE MARGARET MATERIAL.
Then:
IF JULIAN CANCELS, USE MARA.
Mara’s stomach tightened.
“How?”
Celeste shook her head.
“I never asked.”
Julian read more.
One photo.
Mara entering the mansion six months earlier.
Graham knew from the first week.
Celeste had recognized her after the third.
They had both waited.
Mara whispered, “Why let me stay?”
Celeste said, “Graham wanted to see if the locket opened anything.”
“So the whole time—”
“Yes.”
Her job.
Her wages.
Her sister’s tuition.
All inside a trap.
Mara’s hands shook.
Julian noticed.
“What does Sophie need?”
Mara looked at him.
“Do not.”
“What?”
“Do not turn this into rescue.”
He stopped.
Good.
“My sister’s tuition is my responsibility.”
Julian nodded.
“Then we keep you employed.”
Celeste laughed bitterly.
Mara looked at her.
“What?”
“You still think she’s a maid.”
Julian’s face tightened.
Mara ignored it.
Ethan returned to the Richard safe.
One item missing.
The key list showed access two nights earlier.
Graham.
What did he take?
Richard’s original evidence-safe key.
Evelyn remembered a second safe.
Old study behind the west gallery.
They opened the concealed panel.
Empty slot.
Video cassette missing.
One paper remained.
RICHARD - IF GRAHAM GETS THIS FAR, HE WILL GO BACK TO THE LAKE HOUSE.
Mara looked at Julian.
Ashford lake house.
Again.
They left immediately.
At the property, no Graham.
But the old dock lights were on.
Inside the study, Mara found a chain on the floor.
Silver.
Broken.
Matching her locket.
Celeste whispered:
“That was my grandfather’s.”
No.
Julian picked it up.
A key hung from it.
Richard’s safe key.
Footsteps sounded behind them.
Graham stood in the doorway.
He looked at Mara.
Then the locket.
May you like
“Your grandmother should have stayed gone.”
CUT.
