Chapter 9: The Voice on the Drive
Noah regained consciousness in the palace infirmary.
He told Clara he had followed Victoria after seeing her enter Clara’s room with the sapphire necklace.
Victoria had met Marcus in an abandoned guesthouse on the north side of the estate.
Noah had recorded part of their conversation before he was discovered.
The flash drive contained audio of Marcus ordering Victoria to frame Clara, drug Eleanor, and force Adrian to surrender control.
But the final seconds were the most disturbing.
Victoria asked what would happen after Adrian signed.
Marcus answered calmly.
“The Blackwood line ends tonight.”
Adrian immediately contacted federal investigators rather than local police. Malcolm transmitted copies of the recording to three separate locations.
Marcus, however, remained confident.
“An edited recording proves nothing.”
Clara watched Victoria closely.
For the first time, fear appeared behind her arrogance.
Marcus was willing to sacrifice her too.
Clara approached her privately.
“He is going to blame everything on you.”
Victoria scoffed.
“You know nothing about us.”
“I know he called you disposable on the recording.”
That was a lie.
But Victoria’s face betrayed her.
Clara continued.
“Help us find Eleanor, and Adrian may tell the authorities you cooperated.”
Victoria glanced toward Marcus.
Then she whispered an address.
“The old chapel beneath the east gardens.”
Adrian and Clara entered the underground chapel through a hidden stairway.
They found Eleanor tied to a chair behind the altar.
Adrian rushed toward her.
“Stop,” Clara said.
A thin wire stretched across the floor.
It was connected to explosives beneath Eleanor’s chair.
A timer glowed in the darkness.
Three minutes remained.
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Then Marcus’s voice came through the chapel speakers.
“Choose carefully, Adrian. Save your mother—or save the palace above her.”
