Chapter 3 - The Secret in the Walls
Detective Russo arrived at the mansion twenty minutes later.
Yellow police tape was quickly strung around the dead dog and the spilled tea.
Daniel sat on the couch, holding Lily tightly against his chest.
Russo asked Daniel to explain everything that had happened with Nora.
Daniel explained that they had only been dating for six months.
Nora had moved in a few weeks ago to help care for Lily.
"She seemed perfect, like a dream come true," Daniel whispered bitterly.
Russo ordered his team to search Nora's bedroom for any clues.
Daniel insisted on joining the detectives during the search.
The guest room Nora used looked completely normal and exceptionally clean.
But Daniel noticed that a heavy oak bookshelf was slightly out of place.
He pushed the bookshelf aside, revealing a loose panel in the drywall.
Russo put on his gloves and carefully removed the wooden panel.
Inside the hidden wall compartment rested a thick, black leather folder.
Daniel opened the folder and felt the blood drain from his face.
It contained dozens of surveillance photos of Daniel and Lily.
There were also detailed blueprints of the house and its security system.
But the most chilling item was at the very bottom of the stack.
It was the original autopsy report of Daniel's first wife, Sarah.
Sarah had supposedly died in a tragic car accident four years ago.
Someone had used a red marker to cross out the word "accident."
The word "murdered" was written in bold red letters above it.
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A small sticky note was attached to a picture of Lily.
The note said, "The child is the only key to the offshore accounts."
