Chapter 6: The Accusation
I couldn’t move.
The police officers stood in the doorway with their hands near their equipment.
Not because they were protecting Emma.
Because they were watching me.
“What?”” I whispered.
The officer in front stepped forward.
“Claire Bennett, we need you to step away from the room.””
I looked around.
“This is a mistake.””
Charles stood behind them.
Silent.
Satisfied.
Victoria’s face changed when she saw the officers.
“Who called you?””
The officer looked at her.
“Mr. Whitmore.””
Of course.
I should have known.
Charles didn’t call them because he wanted help.
He called them because he wanted control.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said.
The officer looked at the hidden room.
Then at me.
“We received a report that an employee assaulted a child.””
My entire body went cold.
“What?””
Charles spoke calmly.
“She found Emma and panicked.””
I stared at him.
“You’re lying.””
He looked disappointed.
“That’s unfortunate.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“She’s lying.””
The officers turned toward her.
One officer frowned.
“Who are you?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“The child’s mother.””
Everyone froze.
The officer checked something on his tablet.
“There is no record of an Evelyn Whitmore living here.””
Charles smiled.
“Exactly.””
Evelyn’s face hardened.
“You erased me.””
The officer looked confused.
Charles stepped forward.
“Officer, this woman has been missing for years. She may need medical attention.””
I couldn’t believe it.
He was turning the victim into the suspect.
The same way he had done everything else.
Victoria suddenly moved.
“Stop.””
Everyone looked at her.
Her voice shook.
“She’s telling the truth.””
Charles turned slowly.
“Victoria.””
She ignored him.
“She is Emma’s mother.””
The officer looked between them.
“Mrs. Whitmore, are you saying you knew this woman?””
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you report her return?””
Victoria had no answer.
And I understood.
She was trapped too.
Not physically.
But by everything she had allowed.
The officer approached the hidden room.
“Who locked this door?””
Nobody answered.
Then Emma spoke.
“Daddy.””
The entire hallway went silent.
Charles’s expression changed.
“Emma.””
The girl looked at him.
“You told me not to tell.””
I felt tears forming in my eyes.
The officer turned toward Charles.
“Mr. Whitmore?””
Charles laughed softly.
“She’s confused.””
“No,” I said.
My voice was steady now.
“She’s scared.””
I pulled out the flash drive.
“I have evidence.””
Charles’s face finally changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
He stepped forward.
“Don’t.””
The officer noticed.
“Don’t what?””
Nobody moved.
I held the flash drive tightly.
“This contains everything.””
Charles looked at Victoria.
Then Evelyn.
Then me.
And suddenly he smiled again.
“You really think that’s the only copy?””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
He looked toward the hidden room.
“Emma knows where the original is.””
Everyone turned.
Emma slowly looked at the wall behind her.
Then whispered:
“There’s another room.””
The hallway went silent.
Another room?
Another secret?
The officer looked at the wall.
“Where?””
Emma pointed to the opposite side of the mansion.
“The room where Mommy was kept.””
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And Charles whispered:
“You should have never opened that door.””
