Chapter 3 - The Paperwork of Deceit
The next morning,
the ranch was eerily quiet,
the snow covering the fields like a thick,
white shroud.
I sat in my office,
staring at the document Victor had placed on my desk.
It was a power of attorney,
giving him full control over the ranch's assets,
and the guardianship of the girls,
should anything happen to me.
Victor stood by the window,
his hands tucked neatly behind his back,
watching the crew clear the driveway.
"It's for the best,
Daniel,"
he said,
his voice smooth and comforting.
"You need time to heal,"
"to get away from this place and the memories."
"I’ll handle the burden of the ranch,"
"while you find your peace."
I looked at the pen in my hand,
feeling the weight of the lie I was about to tell.
"And Emma?"
I asked,
not looking up.
"The police will be here by noon,"
Victor replied.
"She’ll be charged with kidnapping and grand larceny."
"The ruby pendant is the final nail in her coffin."
"The poor girl was just too greedy for her own good."
I signed the paper,
the ink flowing smoothly across the parchment.
I watched Victor's reflection in the glass of a framed photo,
the way his lips curled into a tiny,
triumphant smirk.
He thought he had won.
He thought the ranch,
the money,
and the power were finally his.
"Thank you,
Victor,"
I said,
sliding the paper toward him.
"I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You don't have to worry anymore,"
he said,
picking up the document with a flourish.
"I’ll take this to the county clerk as soon as the roads are clear."
"In the meantime,"
"I’ve arranged for the girls to be moved to a private clinic in the city."
"The 'fever' is still lingering,"
"and they need specialized care."
My grip on the edge of the desk tightened,
my knuckles turning white.
He was trying to move them,
to get them away from me so he could finish his work.
"No,"
I said firmly.
Victor paused,
his eyes narrowing.
"Daniel,
it's for their safety."
"I’ve already called a doctor,"
I countered,
standing up to face him.
"Dr. Sterling,
Claire’s old friend."
"He’s coming in by air."
"He’ll be here within the hour."
For a split second,
fear flashed across Victor's face,
the first crack in his perfect facade.
"Sterling?"
he stammered.
"But he's...
he's in Switzerland."
"He flew back for me,"
I lied,
moving toward the door.
"I want the girls in the main living room."
"I want the whole staff gathered."
"We’re going to have a meeting,
Victor."
"To announce the new leadership of Willow Creek."
Victor's smirk returned,
though it was a little tighter than before.
"Of course,
Daniel."
"Whatever you think is best."
He walked out of the office,
clutching the power of attorney like a golden ticket.
He didn't see me reach for the radio on my belt.
"Emma,"
I whispered into the receiver.
"It's time."
"Get the nurses to the living room."
"And tell the guards who still remember Claire,"
"to be ready."
The stage was set.
May you like
The predator was walking into the light.
And the ruby pendant was about to become his shackle.
