Chapter 7 - Searching The Estate Master Study
Later that evening, while the police technicians combed the kitchen for forensic evidence, Julian led Grace up the grand staircase.
They walked down the dimly lit hallway toward Eleanor’s private master study, a room off-limits to everyone in the family.
Julian inserted a brass key into the heavy oak door, turning the lock with a firm click before pushing the door open.
The room smelled of old leather, expensive perfume, and hidden malice, featuring floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a mahogany desk.
“My mother kept all her personal financial ledgers and legal files locked in this room,” Julian explained, switching on the desk lamp.
Grace walked over to the desk, running her fingers along the polished wood until she noticed a slight gap in the wall paneling.
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She pressed her thumb against a carved wooden rosette, and a hidden wall compartment slid open with a soft, mechanical hiss.
Inside sat a stack of legal documents, cash envelopes, and a second smartphone filled with incriminating text messages.
