Chapter 4 - SECRETS OF THE GUEST COTTAGE
The afternoon air was thick with the scent of upcoming rain,
and dark clouds gathered overhead.
Clara slipped out of the main mansion through the kitchen doors,
blending into the shadows of the garden.
She hurried toward the secluded guest cottage,
where Julian had resided for the past month.
The door was locked,
but Clara possessed a master key used by the housekeeping staff.
She turned the key softly,
the lock clicking open with a faint sound that made her heart race.
Stepping inside,
the air felt stagnant,
smelling faintly of Julian's expensive cologne.
The room was in disarray,
drawers pulled out and clothes scattered everywhere.
It was obvious Julian had tried to pack his essentials before the security guards caught him.
Clara began her search methodically,
checking under the mattress and inside empty shoes.
She found nothing of interest until she approached the heavy oak desk in the corner.
Running her fingers along the bottom of the drawer,
she felt a small hidden compartment.
With a firm push,
a secret panel slid open,
revealing a burner phone and a handwritten ledger.
Clara gasped,
pulling the items out into the dim light of the window.
The ledger contained dates,
monetary amounts,
and a recurring set of initials: "A.V."
Her heart stopped as she realized what those initials stood for: Arthur Vance.
Suddenly,
the sound of heavy footsteps on the gravel outside shattered the silence.
Someone was approaching the cottage,
and they were moving quickly.
Clara looked around frantically for a place to hide,
clutching the evidence tightly to her chest.
May you like
The front door handle began to turn,
rattling loudly in the quiet space.
