Chapter 5: B: Evidence Lost

👉 Previous decision: You chose to hide the physical ledger inside her studio wardrobe.

I returned to my studio, the heavy notary ledger tucked inside my oversized bag. My heart still hammered from the adrenaline of breaking into Phelan’s office.

I moved the wardrobe aside, revealing the plastered-over hole. It felt like a secret keeper.

The ledger slid neatly behind the wardrobe, nestled between the wall and the cheap particle board. “Safe,” I whispered.

A week passed. I felt a growing sense of security, the knowledge of the hidden ledger a silent weapon.

Then, one afternoon, I returned to find my studio door slightly ajar. My blood ran cold.

The wardrobe was pulled away from the wall. The space behind it was empty. The ledger was gone.

A quick search confirmed it. My few valuable possessions were untouched. Only the ledger was missing.

A few days later, the NYPD arrived. They held a search warrant.

“Ms. Hensley,” the detective said, his face grim. “We have reason to believe you’ve committed burglary at Arthur Phelan’s office.”

Phelan, it turned out, had hired private investigators. They had traced my movements, learned about the ledger, and orchestrated its “discovery.”

They even had photos of me entering his office. Framed, out of context, it looked like a clear crime.

“The evidence is overwhelming,” the detective said, gesturing to the empty space behind my wardrobe. “You’re under arrest.”