A witness silenced
329 Words
Silence crashed over the Lancaster mansion.
No one spoke.
No one even seemed to breathe.
Oliver was the first to recover.
"What happened?" he demanded.
The messenger swallowed hard.
"Ethan Brooks was found in his apartment early this morning. The police believe it may have been made to look like a robbery, but they suspect foul play."
Tracy felt a chill run down her spine.
"If someone killed him..." she whispered, "then whoever is behind this is willing to do anything."
Grandfather Edward slowly rose from his chair.
"This family has enemies," he said. "But this doesn't leave this room. The Lancaster name will not be dragged through the mud."
Oliver's eyes flashed with anger.
"A man is dead, and you're worried about the family name?"
"I'm worried about everyone's safety," Edward replied.
Marcus's phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen, then looked at Oliver.
"The police are searching Ethan's office. They've asked if we know of anyone he trusted."
Oliver thought for a moment.
"There was someone."
"Who?"
"A former executive assistant named Grace Holloway. Ethan once told me she kept copies of important files in case anything ever happened to him."
Marcus nodded.
"I'll find her."
As everyone began to leave the hall, Tracy noticed Vanessa slipping out a side door.
Something felt wrong.
"I'll be right back," Tracy whispered to Oliver.
She quietly followed Vanessa through the mansion's dimly lit corridors.
Vanessa entered the old library.
Before Tracy could step inside, she heard Vanessa speaking on the phone.
"No," Vanessa said in a low voice. "Ethan is gone."
A pause.
"I understand."
Another pause.
Then Vanessa's voice turned tense.
"I'll keep Oliver distracted... but if they find the file before we do, everything will be exposed."
The call ended.
Tracy's heart raced.
She stepped back carefully—
But her foot landed on a loose floorboard.
Creak.
Vanessa's head snapped toward the door.
"Who's there?"
Tracy held her breath as the library door slowly began to open.
- Writer
