Chapter 9: The Last Lie
By the next afternoon, Vane House no longer resembled a home.
Police officers moved between the library, the dining room, and the east wing. Evidence labels covered the surfaces of Daniel's desk. The kitchen had been temporarily closed while investigators completed their work, and security guards remained at the gates.
Daniel hadn't slept.
He sat in the library with Martin Hale, reading the documents recovered from Elise's suitcase.
Across the room, Noah answered questions from Detective Harris. He had repeated his account several times, but each retelling uncovered details he hadn't thought significant before.
The container.
The stirring.
The clock.
The way Elise checked the doorway.
Every detail mattered now.
Harris finally closed her notebook.
“Thank you, Mr. Reyes. That should be enough for the moment.””
Noah looked toward Daniel.
“Sir, is there anything else you need me to do?””
Daniel shook his head.
“You've done enough.””
But as Noah stood, Daniel reached for his arm.
“I owe you an apology.””
Noah looked confused.
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“For what, sir?””
“For every time I've walked past you without considering how little power you have in this house. For every time I've assumed that because someone wears a uniform or carries a clipboard,
