Chapter 4 - The Trap Springs
Before Margaret could reply, the sharp beam of a high-powered flashlight cut through the darkness of the hedge maze.
“There they are!” a harsh voice shouted from the main terrace.
Footsteps crunched heavily on the gravel—not just one guard, but half a dozen men in dark suits, converging on their position from every direction. At the front of the group walked Arthur Vance, his silver hair immaculate, holding a gold-handled cane as though he were taking a leisurely evening stroll.
“Well, well,” Arthur murmured, smiling coldly as he stepped into the courtyard. “Family reunions are always so messy. Especially when the dead insist on crashing the party.”
Elena stepped in front of Margaret, her body tense, ready to bolt. But the exits were completely blocked. High brick walls lined the maze on all sides, and the iron gate they had entered through was now guarded by two armed men.
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“You can’t keep us quiet forever, Arthur,” Margaret said, her voice steady despite the terror gripping her chest. “The note inside the locket is already copied. It’s transmitting to the federal prosecutor right now.”
Arthur chuckled, a low, confident sound. “Let them look for it. By morning, this entire estate—and everyone inside it—will have suffered a terrible, tragic gas leak.”
