Chapter 3 - The Inside Man
To infiltrate the Sterling estate, we needed someone on the inside.
For two years, Clara had been the only person in that massive house who treated the staff like human beings.
While Victoria screamed at the maids and Julian threw his dry cleaning at the butler, Clara had quietly learned their names, asked about their families, and slipped them extra cash.
I dialed a number Clara had written down for me on a scrap of paper.
It belonged to Mateo, the Sterlings' head of security.
Mateo's younger sister had been going through expensive medical treatments, and Clara had secretly paid off the hospital bills from her own modest savings before Julian cut off her access.
"Hello?" a deep voice answered.
"Mateo, this is Eleanor Vance, Clara's mother," I said, my voice steady.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
"I heard what happened yesterday," Mateo finally said, his tone thick with disgust.
"Mr. Sterling told the staff that Clara had a mental breakdown and was sent to a facility."
"He's a liar," I said bluntly. "He beat her, and his mother helped."
I could hear Mateo exhale sharply through his nose.
"What do you need me to do, Mrs. Vance?" he asked without hesitation.
"I need access to the service entrance during the gala tomorrow night," I explained.
"And I need the security cameras in the west wing looped for exactly fifteen minutes."
Mateo didn't ask questions.
"The catering trucks arrive at 6:00 p.m.," he instructed.
"I will leave a uniform in the gardener's shed near the back gate."
"Thank you, Mateo," I said, feeling a surge of genuine gratitude.
"No, thank you," he replied. "Miss Clara is an angel, and the Sterlings are monsters. It's time they pay."
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With the inside man secured, Marcus began gathering the equipment we would need.
The seventy-two-hour clock was ticking down, and Julian's time was running out faster than he realized.
