Chapter 3 - The Missing Evidence
Late that night, Julian returned to the scene of his wife Clara's death.
The master balcony overlooked the jagged cliffs of the Sterling coastal estate.
Six months ago, Clara had fallen to her death on the sharp rocks below.
The coroner had ruled it an accidental fall triggered by sudden cardiac arrest.
At the time, Victoria was Clara's best friend and personal assistant.
Victoria was the one who found Clara's body on the rocks.
Victoria was the one who consoled Julian through his darkest nights.
Julian walked into Clara's old study, which had been locked since her passing.
He sat at her desk and pulled out the bottom drawer.
It was empty.
He searched the hidden safe behind the painting.
The hard drives containing Clara's private journals were gone.
Julian’s breath hitched in his throat.
Someone had scrubbed Clara's personal belongings clean.
He pulled out his phone and dialed his private investigator, Mark.
"Mark, I need you to re-examine Clara's autopsy report," Julian ordered.
"Mr. Sterling, that file was sealed by your mother’s legal team months ago," Mark replied cautiously.
"I don't care who sealed it!" Julian yelled into the receiver.
"Break into the digital archives if you have to!"
"I need to know what was in Clara's bloodstream when she died!"
"Understood, boss," Mark said.
"By the way, there's something else you should know."
"What is it?" Julian demanded.
"Victoria's bail hearing was just fast-tracked for 8:00 AM tomorrow," Mark revealed.
"Your mother signed as her guarantor."
"The judge set bail at five million dollars."
"Victoria will be walking free in less than six hours."
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Julian smashed his glass tumbler against the stone fireplace.
The glass shattered into a thousand glittering pieces.
