The grand living room of the Vance estate was warm, the fireplace crackling softly against the dark wood paneling. Sarah wrapped a thick wool blanket around Martha's shoulders and handed her a warm cup of herbal tea.
Daniel sat on the leather sofa beside his mother, holding her hand while his suit jacket dried near the hearth.
Daniel: Mom, drink some tea. Take it slow.
Martha: I'm feeling better, Daniel. My hands are warm now.
Daniel: Sarah, I want you to tell me everything that happened before I walked out into that courtyard.
Sarah: Yes, Mr. Vance. Yesterday at eleven AM, while you were still on your flight from Chicago, I heard a noise coming from the west wing study.
Daniel: The study is supposed to be locked when I'm away.
Sarah: Miss Chloe hired a private locksmith to open your mother's personal wall safe.
Martha: She thought I was sleeping in the guest house, Daniel. But I saw the locksmith walk through the side gate with his tool bag.
Daniel: Did she take anything from the safe?
Sarah: She took your father's original estate trust ledger and the master stock certificate folders!
The living room double doors slammed open. Chloe marched into the room, her wet red gown changed into a tight gold silk dress. Her left cheek was still bright red from Daniel's slap, but her eyes were full of arrogant defiance.
Chloe: Daniel! This maid is telling you complete lies to save her own skin!
Daniel: Sit down, Chloe.
Chloe: I will not sit down in my own house! I want this maid fired for slander and trespassing in my private dressing room!
Daniel: This is my mother's house, Chloe. You haven't signed a single legal document yet.
Chloe: I opened that safe because your mother asked me to retrieve her medical insurance files!
Martha: I never asked you to touch my safe, Chloe. I keep my medical files in the kitchen drawer.
Chloe: You don't remember what you asked me, Martha! You have memory lapses every single afternoon!
Martha set her tea cup down on the glass table with a firm, sharp clatter. She looked up at Chloe, her eyes clear, steady, and sharp as steel.
Martha: I don't have memory lapses, Chloe. I have been playing quiet for three months so I could watch how you treat my staff when my son isn't looking.
Chloe: What... what are you talking about?
Martha: You weren't looking for medical files yesterday. You were looking for the power of attorney form you forged with your father's lawyer!
Daniel stood up from the sofa, his eyes locked onto Chloe's pale face.
Daniel: Power of attorney? Chloe, what power of attorney?
Chloe: She's confusing things, Daniel! She's old and confused!
Martha: I am seventy-two years old, Chloe, and my mind is sharper than yours will ever be. Sarah, bring the black folder from my bedroom closet.
Sarah: Right away, Mrs. Vance.
Chloe: Don't move, maid! Touch that closet and I'll call the police!
Daniel: Go get the folder, Sarah. Let's see what my fiancée has been doing behind my back.
Chloe took a step back, her gold dress rustling as she looked toward the doorway, realizing the walls were closing in fast.