The Woman Behind the Glass
Chapter 02 - The Woman Behind the Glass
Serena crossed the west corridor toward the indoor pool.
Julian remained with Evelyn while security chief Marcus Reed entered through the front doors. He had received the same automatic alert.
“Take care of her,” Julian said. “I’m going after Serena.”
Marcus stopped him.
“Police are already coming. Let the cameras follow.”
The pool room had glass walls overlooking the gardens. Security footage showed Serena rushing inside and pulling a heavy chair toward a wall panel.
She raised the chair and struck the panel.
The glass door beside her cracked.
A second strike shattered the lower pane. Serena stepped backward, lost her footing on the wet tile, and fell into the shallow end of the pool.
Julian and Marcus reached the room within seconds.
Marcus pulled her to the steps. She was frightened but conscious and physically stable.
Serena began shouting before she was fully out of the water.
“Julian pushed me!”
“No one touched you,” Marcus said.
The ceiling camera had captured everything.
Serena looked upward.
Another red light blinked.
The old system was active throughout the mansion.
Paramedics examined Evelyn and Serena separately. Evelyn’s baby remained stable, but the doctor insisted she rest.
Police officer Lena Ortiz secured the footage.
The video from the grand hall clearly showed Serena standing over Evelyn and forcing her to open her hand.
“What did you want from her?” Ortiz asked.
Serena’s attorney arrived before she answered.
The silver ring remained with Evelyn.
Marcus scanned it.
A tiny electronic chip was hidden beneath the engraving.
The ring was not simply jewelry.
It was an access key.
Julian asked who could have activated the old cameras.
Marcus opened the mansion’s original security blueprint.
Only three people had master access.
Julian’s late grandfather, Samuel Albright.
Serena’s father, corporate trustee Victor Vale.
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And Clara Hart—the systems engineer listed as deceased twenty-two years earlier.
Clara Hart was Evelyn’s mother.
