Chapter 4 - THE BROTHER OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Sebastian entered only after Rosalie agreed.
He removed his silver watch and placed it on the bedside table.
It was an old family habit.
Their father had taught them that a person hiding nothing should place time where everyone could see it.
Theodore no longer trusted family lessons.
Rosalie studied Sebastian’s bruised face.
“You followed the ambulance.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“The route changed.”
“That is not what I mean.”
Sebastian understood.
“Because I believed Theo after the coffin opened.”
“You did not believe me while I was alive.”
He lowered his eyes.
Rosalie told Theodore how she had confronted Sebastian two months earlier.
She showed him transfers from the Vale Foundation to private clinics.
Sebastian accused her of misreading research grants.
He ordered internal counsel to review the documents.
The review was handled by people Eleanor selected.
It concluded nothing illegal had occurred.
Then Sebastian warned Rosalie that public accusations could destroy the foundation.
“You told me to wait.”
“I wanted proof.”
“I had proof.”
“You had incomplete files.”
“You cared more about the Vale name than the people inside those clinics.”
Sebastian did not deny it.
“I believed I could investigate privately.”
“Did you?”
“I asked Mercer.”
Rosalie laughed bitterly.
“You asked the man conducting the trials whether he was conducting trials.”
“He told me the payments funded palliative care.”
“And you accepted that because it was comfortable.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Theodore looked between them.
“Did you know Mother was involved?”
“No.”
“Did you know she met Mercer last night?”
“No.”
“Did you erase the estate footage?”
Sebastian’s head lifted.
“What footage?”
Every interior camera between the library and Rosalie’s bedroom had been deleted.
The security director claimed Sebastian ordered the deletion at 2:06 in the morning.
A request had come from his executive account.
Sebastian had been asleep in his west-wing suite.
His phone showed no activity.
Someone used his access credentials.
Rosalie stared at him.
“You expect us to believe you were framed.”
“No.”
“I expect you to wait for evidence before deciding.”
Theodore almost laughed.
“That is what you told Rosalie.”
Sebastian absorbed the words.
A nurse entered carrying Rosalie’s belongings from the funeral home.
The silver locket was missing.
Rosalie sat upright too quickly.
“The locket had the files.”
“What files?” Sebastian asked.
“The complete Bellglass archive.”
“I copied everything onto a microdrive.”
“The drive was hidden inside the back.”
Theodore remembered seeing the locket around Rosalie’s neck inside the coffin.
He also remembered Eleanor standing close to the body before the mourners arrived.
She had adjusted Rosalie’s hair.
Touched the chain.
Whispered something near her ear.
The memorial had been recorded by dozens of guests.
Somebody’s phone might have captured what happened to the locket.
Theodore looked at Sebastian.
“Tell everyone who attended that police need their videos.”
Sebastian hesitated.
Theodore saw the old instinct.
Protect the name.
Control the scandal.
Then Sebastian picked up his phone.
He called Detective Mara Ellis.
“Release the guest list.”
“Ask for every photograph and recording.”
“No family review first.”
When he ended the call, Rosalie looked at him.
“That should not feel brave.”
“I know.”
May you like
“It feels late.”
“I know that too.”
