Chapter 4 - THE HIDDEN ROOMThat night, Daniel discovered something strange.
The conservatory's original blueprints showed a basement extending beneath the entire east wing.
But the cellar they had found was only a fraction of it.
“There should be another room,” Daniel said.
Lily stood beside him.
“Where?”
“Behind this wall.”
They searched until midnight.
Finally, Lily noticed a crack in the stonework.
Behind it was a narrow passage.
At the end stood a steel door.
The brass key fit.
Daniel hesitated.
Then turned it.
The lock clicked.
Inside was a hidden archive.
Boxes filled the room.
Photographs.
Bank records.
Letters.
Property deeds.
And dozens of cassette tapes.
Lily picked up one photograph.
It showed her grandfather standing beside a younger Diane.
On the back, someone had written:
THE CALDER TRUST — KEEP THIS FROM DIANE.
Daniel stared at it.
“What the hell is this?”
Evelyn appeared behind them.
“I was afraid you'd find it.”
Daniel turned.
“Mom, what happened in this house?”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Your father discovered that someone was stealing from the family trust.”
“Who?”
May you like
She looked at Diane.
“Someone who had access to everything.”
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