The Silent Guest

Chapter Six

The interrogation room in the estate's converted west parlor was hastily set up: a single chair, a folding table, a buzzing lamp overhead that cast long shadows across the girl's pale face.

She sat with arms crossed tightly over her chest, damp clothes clinging to her, muddy boots leaving dark stains on the polished floor. Her hair hung in wet strands, framing eyes that flicked nervously to every sound beyond the door.

Detective Rachel Kennedy leaned against the mantel, arms folded, studying her like a puzzle.

"You ran," Rachel said calmly. "That usually means guilt. Or fear. Which one is it?"

The girl's jaw clenched. "Fear."

"Of who?"

No answer.

Rachel stepped closer. "You said Adam told you to disappear. That if anyone found you, you'd be next."

The girl's lips pressed into a line.

"You were in the house tonight. After Laura was killed. You left a trail of muddy footprints straight to the study. What were you looking for?"

Silence.

Rachel dropped a manila folder on the table. It contained the birth certificate. The message from Laura. And the letter Adam had just revealed.

"He says you're his sister. Another Goodman heir. Is this true?"

A pause. Then the girl whispered, "I never wanted any of it."

"What's your name?"

Her eyes lifted. And for the first time, Rachel saw something underneath the panic—pride. Steel. Goodman blood.

"…Claire."

"Claire what?"

The girl hesitated. Then:

"Claire Vaughn."

Lana blinked. "As in… Elise Vaughn?"

"She's my aunt. My mother's sister. After Mom died, Elise took me in. Changed my name. Kept me out of sight." Claire looked down. "She didn't trust the Goodmans. Said they'd come for me if they knew."

"So Laura knew about you?"

Claire nodded. "She found out last year. She wanted to protect me. Said she'd been keeping secrets too long. She… she was going to tell the world."

"Tell them what?"

Claire's voice dropped. "That Adam wasn't the only hidden child. That Richard Goodman had a second will. One that left everything—not to her—but to both of us."

Rachel's pulse ticked upward. "Why tonight? Why sneak into the mansion after she died?"

"I got a message. From her number. Said 'go to the red room, take the ledger, and disappear.'"

Lana straightened. "Ledger?"

Claire nodded. "My father's journal. He kept records of everything. Business, bribes, names. If it's found… it could ruin everyone."

"And did you find it?"

Claire hesitated. "No. It was gone."

Lana narrowed her eyes. "Then someone got there first."

The door creaked open. Officer Gregory leaned in. "Detective… we pulled partial prints off a bottle in the wine cellar."

"And?"

He glanced at Claire, then back to Rachel.

"They match Elise Vaughn."