The Midnight Inheritance: How My Business Partner Framed Me at the Vanderbilt Gala
👉 Previous Decision: You chose to stay hidden as Marcus stormed off.
Julian moved with the stealth of years of training. The mansion’s security, already stretched thin by the murder and the storm, was focused on the internal chaos. He slipped past a distracted guard at a less-used side gate, fading into the howling wind and rain.
He found Arthur’s spare vehicle—a discreet, dark sedan—parked some distance from the main house, just as he remembered. The keys were in the glove compartment. The engine turned over with a low rumble.
He drove away from the imposing gates, leaving the Vanderbilt estate behind. The coastal road was dark, slick with rain, and visibility was poor. Lightning flashed, momentarily illuminating the churning ocean.
Julian knew Marcus hadn’t concocted the rare synthetic neurotoxin himself. He would have acquired it, likely from a local chemical distributor, using Silas Finch’s forged license as cover. That paper trail, that invoice, that witness—that was the key.
He gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. Marcus’s legal team, Julian estimated, would descend upon the town by 8:00 AM, ready to shred any incriminating records. He had a few hours, at most, to find what he needed before the truth vanished.
The town, even in the middle of the night, would have its own rhythms, its own places where information might be found. He had to choose wisely.
Choose your next action
Drive to the 24-hour diner where local harbor workers and lab technicians congregate. — Read Chapter 12 to continue
Infiltrate Silas Finch’s downtown notary office before he can shred his physical records. — Read Chapter 13 to continue
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