The afternoon sun cast long faint shadows across the polished wooden floorboards.
Maria walked down the secondary hallway toward the home administrative office.
She carried a ring of master keys that belonged to the estate supervisor.
Richard had asked her to inspect the storage rooms near the rear entrance.
He wanted to confirm whether any other family documents were misplaced or moved.
Maria opened the door to the small document storage room quiet and slow.
The room smelled of old paper, leather bindings, and faint lavender scent.
She noticed a small lockbox sitting open on the corner shelf.
Several empty envelopes were scattered across the table near the filing cabinet.
Maria: Someone was searching through these drawers very recently today.
She picked up one of the yellowed paper folders resting on top.
Inside lay photographs of the estate grounds taken several years ago.
Behind the photos was an old letter written in fading black ink.
The letter addressed Richard's late father regarding the original property deed.
Maria heard footsteps approaching rapidly down the narrow secondary hallway.
She turned around to see Elena standing in the open doorway.
Elena: Put those files back right now if you value your future.
Maria: Mr. Richard asked me to check this room for missing items.
Elena: You are just a maid who is interfering in family matters.
Maria: These papers were left out in the open, Madam Elena.
Elena stepped into the small room and closed the heavy door firmly.
Elena: How much money do you want to pack your bags tonight?
Maria: I do not want any money from you to break rules.
Elena: Name your price and walk away before things get worse.
Maria: My honesty is not something you can buy with cash.
Elena reached forward and grabbed the yellow folder from Maria's hands.
The paper tore slightly along the top margin during the brief struggle.
A hidden key fell out of the folder and clattered onto the floor.
Maria looked down at the tiny brass key sitting between them.
Elena: Do not touch that key under any circumstances at all!
Maria: That key belongs to the main wall safe downstairs, madam.
Richard walked into the doorway after noticing the raised voices inside.
Richard: What is going on in this side office right now?
Elena: She was trying to steal private family records from the cabinet!
Richard: Maria has worked here for years without a single complaint.
He looked down at the small brass key resting on the floor.
He recognized the distinct shape of the key right away.
Richard: That key opens my father's private lockbox in the library basement.