Chapter 8 - The Blind Spot by the LakeThe estate had twenty-seven exterior cameras.
None covered the exact section of shoreline where Walter attacked Adeline.
That had always been intentional.
Charles Bellamy hated cameras facing the private lake.
He called it the only place on the property where a person could walk without becoming footage.
After Charles died, Evelyn kept the rule.
Walter knew.
Lydia knew.
Three months earlier, Mara had been repairing drip irrigation near the oak grove when she saw them.
Walter walked the shoreline slowly.
Lydia followed.
Walter pointed toward several camera poles.
Then toward the blind section.
At the time Mara assumed they were discussing landscape privacy.
Now she remembered Lydia saying:
“Nothing from the house?”
Walter:
“Not here.”
The recording Mara made captured only fragments.
But investigators could verify the location.
Daniel listened.
“So they planned where something could happen.”
Detective Mercer replied:
“They studied it.”
“For what?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Evelyn stared out the window toward the lake.
Her father had created that blind spot because he valued privacy.
Walter had turned privacy into opportunity.
Detective Mercer asked:
“Did your father keep property records in the boathouse?”
“No.”
“Company records?”
“No.”
“Anything valuable?”
“Old sailing equipment. Family storage.”
Mara said:
“Adeline mentioned her bracelet.”
Evelyn nodded.
“She lost it.”
Detective Mercer looked at Mara.
“You searched the boathouse after the attack?”
“No. Police secured it.”
A warrant search began that afternoon.
Inside an old cabinet, investigators found a blue document envelope.
Adeline recognized it from photographs.
“That was there.”
“What did you see Walter do?”
“He gave it to Aunt Lydia.”
The envelope had later been placed back.
Inside were copies of internal Bellamy Development projections.
Confidential.
They showed that the three properties Arden Capital wanted to buy were expected to rise significantly in value if a pending county infrastructure project received approval.
The board had not yet received the final projections.
Lydia had them.
Rebecca stared at the numbers.
“If this is accurate, selling now could cost shareholders tens of millions in future value.”
“Why would Lydia want that?”
“Six million.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“That still doesn’t make sense.”
Rebecca agreed.
“Unless she needs money immediately.”
Financial investigators began examining Lydia’s public records.
They found mortgages.
Loans.
Nothing catastrophic.
Then a private lender responded to a subpoena tied to Lakebridge.
Lydia had personally guaranteed a twelve-million-dollar investment loan two years earlier.
The investment failed.
A substantial payment was due within weeks.
If Lydia defaulted, her shares in Bellamy Development—pledged as collateral—could be seized.
Evelyn stared.
“She was going to lose her company shares.”
“Potentially.”
“So she needed the sale.”
“Yes.”
The six-million-dollar consulting fee plus sale proceeds from her shareholder interest would stabilize her position.
“And if the properties increased later…”
“Arden benefits.”
Evelyn felt sick.
Lydia was willing to damage the family company to save herself.
But attempted murder?
Still a leap.
Then Detective Mercer received another recovered message.
L: Need E out through month-end.
W: Medical?
L: Better if natural.
W: Explain.
L: She loses child, she collapses. D takes her away. Board moves on.
Evelyn stopped breathing.
Rebecca took the page.
No one spoke.
Walter responded:
Risk high.
Lydia:
So is losing twelve million.
Daniel pushed his chair back violently.
“That’s conspiracy.”
Rebecca looked at Detective Mercer.
The detective’s expression had changed.
“This is much stronger.”
Evelyn whispered:
“She planned it.”
Detective Mercer answered carefully.
“She appears to have discussed causing or exploiting a traumatic event involving Adeline.”
“Don’t soften it.”
“I’m not. I’m being exact.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“My aunt priced my daughter against twelve million dollars.”
No one contradicted her.
That night Evelyn visited Adeline at Daniel’s sister’s house.
The girl was coloring.
Evelyn sat beside her.
“What are you drawing?”
“The lake.”
Evelyn stiffened.
The picture showed blue water.
Trees.
A huge sun.
No boulder.
No Walter.
“Where are you?”
Adeline pointed to a tiny figure on the lawn.
“And that?”
“Mara.”
Evelyn noticed a third figure.
“Who’s this?”
“You.”
“I wasn’t there.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you draw me?”
Adeline shrugged.
“Because I wanted you there.”
Evelyn had to look away.
Adeline continued coloring.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Did Aunt Lydia tell Walter to do it?”
Evelyn’s heart stopped.
“Why do you ask?”
“I heard them.”
“What exactly?”
Adeline put down the crayon.
“At the boathouse.”
Her voice became quiet.
“Aunt Lydia said, ‘The girl is the only thing Evelyn can’t think around.’”
Evelyn stared.
“What did Walter say?”
“He said, ‘Children are unpredictable.’”
“And Lydia?”
Adeline looked at her mother.
“She said…”
May you like
Evelyn waited.
“Then make her predictable.”
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