Chapter 11 - The Blue Room|
The old Ellery estate stood forty miles outside Manhattan.
By the time Marcus, Norah, and the investigators arrived, firefighters had contained most of the flames.
The fire had started in the eastern wing.
The blue study was in the basement.
Marcus watched smoke drift from the upper windows.
"My father kept everything here," he said.
Daniel turned toward the investigators.
"We need to establish whether anyone is still inside."
A firefighter approached.
"There's no one in the building."
Marcus moved toward the entrance.
Norah followed.
"Wait," Daniel warned. "The structure may not be safe."
But Marcus had already entered.
The basement door was partially blocked by fallen wood.
They cleared it together.
Inside, the blue study was almost untouched.
The walls were painted a deep navy.
A large desk stood beside a bookcase.
And above the fireplace hung a portrait of Marcus's father.
Norah noticed the painting was crooked.
She stepped closer.
Behind it was a small metal safe.
Marcus recognized the lock.
His father's birthday.
The safe opened.
Inside were several documents, an old USB drive, and a leather-bound ledger.
Norah picked up the ledger.
The pages contained names, dates, and financial transfers.
Some names were crossed out.
Others had handwritten notes beside them.
Richard Voss appeared on nearly every third page.
Daniel examined the documents.
"This is evidence of a coordinated financial scheme."
Marcus opened the USB drive on a secured laptop.
A video file appeared.
The recording showed his father sitting in the study.
He looked directly into the camera.
"If this recording has been recovered, then I failed to stop what I started."
Marcus went pale.
His father continued.
"Richard Voss controls the money. Peter Shaw controls the people. Vivien has been trying to keep the family intact, but she doesn't understand the danger."
The recording paused.
Then another person entered the room.
Evelyn.
Marcus leaned forward.
His wife looked frightened but determined.
"Arthur, I have the documents."
His father nodded.
"Then we need to get you out."
"Marcus doesn't know."
"He doesn't need to."
Evelyn shook her head.
"He deserves to know what his family has done."
The recording continued.
Suddenly, the image changed.
The study door opened.
A man entered.
Richard Voss.
He looked directly at Evelyn.
"Give me the ledger."
Evelyn refused.
The recording ended.
Marcus sat back.
He looked as though he had been struck.
"My father knew."
Daniel nodded.
"Your father was trying to gather evidence."
Norah looked at the remaining files.
"Then why did Evelyn die?"
Nobody answered.
A sound came from upstairs.
Footsteps.
Raymond appeared at the basement entrance.
"Mr. Ellery, we have company."
Marcus stood.
"Who?"
"Peter Shaw."
Norah looked toward the stairs.
Peter stepped into view.
May you like
He was holding a gun.
And behind him stood Thomas Reed.
