Chapter 4 - The Framed Man
The hospital television screen is flashing with breaking news alerts.
The bold red banner across the bottom reads that billionaire Arthur Sterling is a wanted fugitive.
The news anchor announces that Arthur has been accused of attempting to murder his household maid.
"Victoria set me up," Arthur whispers, his eyes wide with terror.
"She called the police and told them I poisoned Helena to hide my affair," he explains to his sons.
Leo and Sam stare at the television screen in absolute disbelief.
"But we were there, we saw her drop the vial!" Sam argues fiercely.
"Victoria owns the chief of police and half the judges in this city," Arthur replies bitterly.
"My testimony against hers means absolutely nothing in this corrupt town," he adds.
Just as he finishes his sentence, the heavy glass doors of the emergency room slide open.
Four armed police officers march into the waiting area with their hands resting on their weapons.
"Arthur Sterling, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Helena Vance," the lead officer barks.
Arthur slowly raises his hands in the air to show he is not a threat.
"Dad, no!" Leo shouts, stepping in front of his father to protect him.
"Stand down, son, or they will arrest you too," Arthur warns gently.
The officers roughly pull Arthur's hands behind his back and secure the cold steel handcuffs.
"Listen to me carefully, boys," Arthur says as he is being dragged away.
"You need to find the red ledger hidden in the false bottom of Victoria's closet," he instructs urgently.
"It proves she bought the poison and bribed the police department," Arthur explains.
The officers shove Arthur out the door, leaving the two boys completely alone in the hospital.
They sit in silence for a long time, trying to figure out their next move.
They know their father's life and their mother's justice depend entirely on them now.
"We have to sneak back into the mansion tonight," Leo finally says with determination.
"Victoria will have guards posted everywhere," Sam points out nervously.
"Then we will use the old servant tunnels Helena showed us when we were kids," Leo replies.
They sneak out the back exit of the hospital to avoid the reporters gathering out front.
They catch a public bus to the wealthy edge of town where their massive estate is located.
The boys manage to slip through the dark woods and find the rusted iron grate hiding the tunnel entrance.
They crawl through the damp, dark stone passage until they reach the basement of their home.
They carefully creep up the grand staircase, avoiding the squeaky wooden boards.
They finally reach Victoria's lavish bedroom and begin searching her massive walk-in closet.
Leo finds the false floorboard and pries it open with a pocket knife.
He pulls out a thick, red leather-bound notebook and smiles in triumph.
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Suddenly, the bedroom door slams shut and the lights flick on overhead.
Victoria is standing in the doorway holding a suppressed silver pistol.
