Chapter 8 - The Shadow in the Garden
While peace had settled over the Hampton estate, the final desperate embers of the past were about to spark one last, dangerous fire.
In a medium-security remand facility in Upstate New York, Victoria Clayton sat in the visitation room, her emerald suit replaced by a drab beige jumpsuit, her manicured nails clipped short.
Sitting across from her was her former personal driver and enforcer, a rough-looking man named Marcus who had evaded the initial federal sweeps.
"The trial starts in three weeks, Victoria," Marcus whispered, leaning across the counter. "The federal prosecutors have a rock-solid case. You're going away for ten years minimum. Vance is taking a plea deal."
Victoria’s eyes burned with a dark, unhinged malice. Her defeat had eaten away at her sanity until nothing remained except a poisonous, consuming hatred for Edward and the two children who had destroyed her life.
"I don't care about the trial, Marcus," Victoria whispered, her hands trembling against the counter. "Edward stripped me of my family name, my wealth, my position. He ruined me for two street orphans."
"There's nothing left to do, boss," Marcus said, backing away slightly from her erratic energy. "The police are watching everything."
"Not the Hampton house," Victoria spat softly. "Edward took his security detail off the estate to give those kids a 'normal summer.' He only has Hank and two guards on the perimeter."
She pulled a heavy diamond ring—a piece of jewelry she had managed to hide from the asset forfeiture team—and slid it across the table inside a folded paper napkin.
"That ring is worth two hundred thousand dollars," Victoria hissed. "Take it. Hire two men. Go to the Hampton house tonight. Burn the estate to the ground."
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Marcus stared at the diamond ring under the napkin. "Victoria... that's arson. That's attempted murder."
"I want Edward to watch his perfect little world turn to ashes," Victoria whispered, a chilling, terrifying smile twisting her lips. "I want him to know what it feels like to lose everything in the fire."
