Chapter 5 - THE VELVET NOOSE
Smoke began to curl under the heavy oak doors. Eleanor wasn't waiting for the police. She was going to burn the evidence, and us along with it.
"Lily, stay close to me," Julian ordered, stripping off his suit jacket to press against the bottom of the door. He turned to me, his eyes desperate. "Elena, I didn't know about the money. I swear to you."
"Save your apologies for when we aren't suffocating," I coughed, scanning the room. My mother was meticulous. She would never create a dead end.
I looked at the heavy brass grate covering the historic fireplace. "Help me pull this," I demanded.
Together, we threw our weight against the antique iron. It gave way with a screech, revealing a narrow, stone service chute. I ushered Lily in first. "Don't look down, sweetie. Just keep climbing."
We emerged into the damp night air of the estate's gardens just as sirens wailed in the distance. We had survived the fire.
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But as we stumbled onto the driveway, floodlights blinded us. The police had arrived. And stepping out of the lead cruiser, draped in a luxurious cashmere coat, was Eleanor.
She smiled, a picture of aristocratic concern. "Officers," she said smoothly. "Thank God you're here. My housekeeper just tried to burn my stepson alive to cover up her theft."
