Chapter 15 - THE PLAN INSIDE THE PLAN
Susan confessed to sabotage.
But not the attempted murder.
Her original plan was to collapse the tower after Noah left, injuring no one.
The goal was to create chaos during my birthday banquet while a second team copied files from the executive server.
"Why?" I asked.
"To erase the records connecting me to North Crown before Adrian's ledger surfaced."
"You risked hundreds of guests."
"The tower was supposed to fall into an empty service lane."
Mara did not look impressed.
"That's still a felony, Susan."
"I know."
But Owen had changed the timing.
He waited until Noah stood beside the tower.
Then waited for me to approach the brass star.
Someone else had contacted him.
Someone who wanted the sabotage turned into murder.
Mara checked Owen's phone again.
The message WAIT UNTIL E IS ON THE STAR came from the burner labeled A.V.
Not Susan.
Grant recovered deleted routing data.
The burner had connected once to Vale House Wi-Fi.
Location: family wing.
Room: Celeste's sitting room.
My mother stared at the report.
"No."
Mara searched her room.
No phone.
No charger.
Then Elena opened a sewing basket beside the sofa.
Inside was a prepaid SIM package.
Celeste sat down slowly.
"Someone put that there."
Then Mara found something else.
A handwritten note beneath the basket.
Owen - Ethan on star, 8:45.
My mother's handwriting.
I knew it instantly.
"Mom."
She covered her mouth.
"I wrote that."
The room went silent.
"Why?"
Tears ran down her face.
"Margaret called me three days ago. She said someone was going to expose the family tonight. She told me Owen was security and needed Ethan's position for protection."
"And you gave it to him?"
"I thought he was protecting you."
Mara's voice hardened.
"You gave an unknown operative your son's exact location and time."
Celeste whispered, "Yes."
Then Julian's phone buzzed.
A video message.
Owen Kane appeared on screen.
Behind him was Elena's empty staff apartment.
May you like
He held up a photograph of Elena and a little girl.
"Ask the maid why she really came to Vale House."
