Chapter 13 - THE RACE AGAINST TIME
The grand marble edifice of the Central National Bank loomed over the downtown square like an ancient stone fortress.
Inside the quiet, cavernous basement vault, the air was cold, sterile, and smelled of polished brass and ozone.
Eleanor stood before the massive steel face of Deposit Box 419, her lace veil pulled back from her pale, immaculate face.
Beside her, a tall bank officer in a tailored grey suit inserted a heavy master key into the upper keyhole.
"I must extend my deepest condolences once again, Mrs. Vance," the officer murmured softly, checking his clipboard.
"Losing a grandchild under such sudden, tragic circumstances... it must be agonizing."
Eleanor pulled out a delicate linen handkerchief, dabbing at the corner of her dry, tearless eyes.
"Thank you, Arthur," Eleanor whispered with flawless, tragic elegance.
"I am simply here to recover my late husband's final wishes so we can settle the family estate in peace."
The bank officer turned the master key, followed by Eleanor's forged secondary key.
With a heavy, satisfying metallic CLICK, the lock mechanisms disengaged.
The heavy brass door of Box 419 swung slowly outward.
Eleanor's breath hitched in her throat, her eyes gleaming with cold, rapacious greed.
She reached inside the dark steel compartment and pulled out a thick, leather-bound ledger tied with faded yellow ribbon.
"Finally..." Eleanor muttered under her breath, her fingers trembling as she untied the ribbon.
This was the document that had threatened her lifestyle for five long years.
This was the true will that left the Vance fortune to Mark’s toddler, bypassing her completely.
She pulled back the cover of the ledger, eager to see the ink that she intended to burn in her fireplace.
Her smile instantly froze.
Her eyes dilated in absolute, paralyzed shock.
The pages were blank.
Every single sheet of yellowed parchment inside the ledger was completely, utterly empty.
"What... what is the meaning of this?!" Eleanor shrieked, her voice echoing violently off the steel vault walls.
"Where are the documents?! Where is the will?!"
The bank officer stepped back in alarm, startled by her sudden loss of composure.
"Mrs. Vance, please keep your voice down—"
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"Where did you put them?!" Eleanor screamed, grabbing the officer by his lapels, her eyes wild with fury.
Before the officer could answer, a deafening crash echoed from the floor above.
