Chapter 9 - THE RECORDING INSIDE THE CLOCK
The Meridian Clock was more complicated than Clara had realized.
Its musical cylinder controlled a secondary mechanism.
At specific intervals, the clock's hidden compartment opened.
Her mother had designed it as a security feature.
A mechanical safe disguised as an antique timepiece.
Clara returned to the museum with Arthur and investigators.
She carefully adjusted the clock.
Set the hands.
Aligned the chimes.
Then turned the brass key.
The mechanism clicked.
A narrow drawer slid open.
Inside was a small metal case.
Arthur stared.
Clara lifted it.
Opened it.
And found a digital storage device.
The recording had been made by Daniel Sterling.
He appeared on a computer screen.
Tired.
Serious.
Standing beside Isabelle.
Daniel looked directly into the camera.
“Father, if you're seeing this, something has gone terribly wrong.”
Arthur covered his mouth.
Daniel continued.
“Richard has been moving money through museum acquisitions and offshore accounts.”
Isabelle stepped forward.
“We discovered that he also arranged fraudulent purchases of historic collections.”
Clara's heart tightened.
Her mother's gallery.
Daniel continued.
“We were preparing to report everything.”
He swallowed.
“But Richard found out.”
Arthur's eyes filled.
Daniel looked down.
Then said:
“He threatened Leo.”
The room went silent.
Isabelle began crying.
“We're leaving Switzerland tomorrow. We have arranged protection for Leo.”
She looked into the camera.
“If anything happens to us, please believe our son.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Then Daniel said something that made Clara freeze.
“Clara Wright's mother helped us secure the evidence. She died because she refused to surrender it.”
Clara stared.
Her mother's death.
Not an accident.
Daniel continued.
“Eleanor hid copies of the records inside her restoration designs. Richard has been searching for them ever since.”
The recording ended.
Arthur sat motionless.
Clara felt tears roll down her face.
For years, she had blamed herself for failing to save the gallery.
Now she understood her mother had been protecting something far more important.
The truth.
Marcus's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then looked up.
“Sir.”
Arthur turned.
“What?”
Marcus swallowed.
“We found Leo.”
Arthur stood.
“Where?”
Marcus looked toward Clara.
“In the old gallery building.”
Clara froze.
Her mother's gallery.
The place she'd lost.
May you like
The place Richard had stolen.
And now the place where Leo was being held.
