legacy

Chapter 14 - THE TRAITOR INSIDE

The idea seemed impossible. Whitmore House had been Naomi’s peaceful place. Now someone inside it had sold information that almost got Lily killed. Investigators reviewed staff access logs.

One account had opened Naomi’s personnel archive eleven times. House manager Gregory Shaw. Naomi refused to believe it. He had defended her after the bracelet accusation.

When police confronted him, he denied everything. Then they showed him the logs. His face changed. “I didn’t sell anything.” “Then why access the file?” Gregory sat down.

“Richard asked me to verify her background before hiring her.” “Eleven times?” Silence. Gregory had gambling debts. Mercer learned about them. For six months, Gregory sold internal information.

Guest lists. Security schedules. Staff records. Naomi’s voice was flat.

“You sold a witness’s location.” “I didn’t know it was there.” “You sold my file.” “I needed money.” “So did everyone you betrayed.” Gregory cried. Naomi felt no satisfaction. Police arrested him. Richard stood in the empty foyer afterward.

Betrayal was rarely committed by strangers. Ethan sat on the staircase. “Vanessa told the truth.” “About Gregory,” Naomi said. “Why?” “Because she’s scared.” He nodded.

Vanessa faced charges for harassment, conspiracy, evidence fabrication and reckless endangerment. Her legal team wanted a deal. Then the prosecutor called again. Vanessa had more.

Mercer had not only investigated Naomi. He had investigated the Whitmore family. Specifically, Ethan’s father’s death. Richard’s face hardened.

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“What did he find?” A file arrived minutes later. Photographs. Bank transfers. A maintenance report from the Whitmore family boat.

Someone had deliberately disabled a fuel-line alarm before the accident. And the payment for the mechanic came from an account connected to Gregory Shaw. The house manager had not just sold Naomi’s past. He might have been hiding a murder for years.

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