Claire's eyes darted upward toward the white plastic casing mounted on the central wooden beam.
Claire: Those systems were deactivated after your father passed away. I canceled the monitoring subscription myself.
Amanda: You canceled the commercial cloud package, Claire. You never knew he had a local backup hard drive running in his private workshop.
Claire took a half step backward, her mask of composure slipping slightly.
Claire: You are bluffing. You have been living in New York for three years. You do not know how this house operates.
Amanda: Jason, check the power light on the secondary server rack in the utility closet.
Jason walked quickly down the narrow hallway and pulled open a small louvered door.
Jason: Green power indicator is solid. The optical drive is actively recording high-definition audio and video right now.
Claire: Jason, shut that system off this second! That is private estate property!
Jason: Actually, according to the temporary executor agreement, digital property is held in joint escrow until the probate judge signs the distribution decree.
Amanda: Which means you have been recorded bringing trays of bread and water to a locked cell for three solid weeks.
Claire: That footage is inadmissible! It violates wiretapping laws inside a private residence!
Amanda: Tell that to the district attorney when he sees a mother starved in a dungeon to steal a ten-million-dollar estate.
Evelyn slowly reached out and took Lily's hand, holding it tight against her chest.
Evelyn: Claire, why did you involve Lily? Why would you threaten an innocent seven-year-old child?
Claire: I never threatened her! I told her to stay out of the basement for her own safety!
Lily: You said if I told Amanda, you would send me away to a boarding school where nobody speaks English!
Amanda's blood ran cold as she turned her gaze back to her stepmother.
Amanda: You threatened to deport my little sister?
Claire: She is an adopted minor whose paperwork has several pending naturalization discrepancies! I was merely stating legal facts!
Amanda: You are a monster.
Claire lunged suddenly toward the utility closet, her manicured nails clawing to get past Jason.
Claire: Give me that hard drive! Give it to me right now!
Jason blocked the doorway with his broad shoulders, holding Claire back with outstretched arms.
Jason: Back up, Claire! Do not touch this equipment!
Claire: I pay your salary, Jason! My family firm pays your entire partnership bonus!
Jason: Not anymore. I resign as your representative as of this exact second.
Sirens began to wail in the far distance, faint at first, then growing louder as they echoed through the quiet suburban streets.
Claire: What is that noise? Who did you call?
Amanda held up her phone, the screen showing an active connection to the emergency dispatch operator.
Amanda: I dialed 911 the second Lily told me Mom was behind that door. They have been listening to every word you just said.