The lake didn't scream. That was the worst part. It just sat there, gray and still, swallowing the morning light without a ripple. Elena stood at the water's edge, arms wrapped around herself, watching divers slip beneath the surface like mourners lowering flowers into a grave.
She already knew what they'd find. Everyone did. The question wasn't if Carol was down there.
It was who put her there. A few hours later carol's car was found, press were already at the scene ready to grab all the details with their cameras. Lucas and Victor head straight to stop them from catching anything when a whistle blows loudly and the police rush over to the lake.
One of the divers pulls out a travelling box, water streaming from its seam. The crowd goes died silent, Everyone knew what to expect. Carol's body wasn't found in the car. She was found chopped beyond recognition. Elena turns away, bile rising, Lucas spots her and moves closer to catch her arm, holding her steady.
The press already clicking and taking pictures, Victor pushes through the crowd, bowing his head.
'Let's get out of here. Now. Before it gets worse'.
He says pointing at the cars.
Elena's eyes scan the chaos and land on Evelyn staring directly at the box of chopped carol. Her eyes spin, strange voices echoes.
'It's your fault! You killed Carol!!'
She stumbles back. 'No! No!!'
Her phone slips from her hand, breathless.
'You killed Carol!'
The voices continued, Evelyn looking directly into Elena's eyes.
She could see the confusion in her eyes, her eyes scanned through the crowd, police and the press.
'I didn't do this'. She says picking her phone up and heads over to Marcus, who had just arrived at the scene.
'We need to talk. now.' She says pulling him over to a less open spot.
Evelyn paces up and down.
'What in the world is happening, Marcus?'
'How in the World is Carol dead?', she continued.
Marcus's face hardened. 'Someone is moving against us. The press doesn't scare me. Whoever did this to Carol does.' Marcus grabs Evelyn's arm, steadying her. 'You need to breathe. Right now, you are heading back to the mansion with security. I don't want any negative remarks on the news especially when you have not been publicly announced'.
Evelyn's voice was small. 'I know. But I want every piece of information you get on this. I especially want your eyes on the board members.' She stumbles, trying to balance herself. Elena saw it happen from across the scene. One moment Evelyn was standing, arguing with Marcus. She walks over, grabs Evelyn by the hand and walks over to the car. Marcus sends security over to drop them home.
Lucas watched Elena hold Evelyn by the hand. Something twisted in his chest. Not jealousy. Something worse.
She was supposed to be his Fiancée. His ally. His. But everyday, she drifted further towards the girl who stole his birthright. Victor walks up to him, 'What do we do about the press?' He says trying to keep a calm but unreadable face. 'Carol's death is going to make the headlines by noon', he continuesd.
Lucas is trying to assess the situation, 'why don't we just pay them to keep this down. Do anything to stop this from affecting our stock prices.
Marcus, who had been eavesdropping interupts, 'Forget the stock prices, Lucas. Someome was killed and dumped in Blackwood's property. Something doesn't feel right. We should postpone Evelyn's inauguration for now.' He loosens his tie.
Lucas scoffs. 'Of course you are worried about her inauguration at this critical time'.
Victor walks out mumbling something to himself. Marcus walks out looking frustrated and tired at the same time.
Elena walks right into the mansion confused and sacred. 'Poor Carol,' she says heading for the leather couch.
She looks up to Evelyn who is still in shock. 'Evelyn, are you okay?' She asked. Evelyn rubs her hand on her forehand, 'I don't know what to feel right now. I literally just saw a woman's corpse chopped in a box….' She was interrupted by Elena.
'Something feels off and I need you to be honest with me. Do you have any involvement in Carol's death?'
Tension fills the atmosphere for some minutes before Evelyn finally speaks up, 'I might be power driven but I am not a psychopath. I can't even kill a fly. How in the world am I supposed to kill a woman, Elena,' she says sitting beside her.
'I don't get what's happening either but I feel Lucas knows a thing or two,' she continued.
'I think I will head upstairs to the library. Bye Elena, she heads up. Elena's mind is stuck on what Evelyn had said.
'Could Lucas be responsible for Carol's death?'
Evelyn sits on the massive leather chair behind Arthur's desk, the reflection of the oak tree covers her face barely visible.
She dials a number and waits, a deep voice answers. 'What do you want, Evelyn? I thought we were not supposed to talk until Carol died.
'I want all evidence created to lead to Victor and Lucas,' she says, clicking her pink pen.
'I strangled her from behind and you chopped her into the box but the media will only see Victor and Lucas as the prime suspects,' she continues.
'Sneaking little girl, you really are just like Arthur,' the voice says.
'May I know why you killed Carol?' The voice continues.
She annoys me and so I killed her and I will use her death to cause a big rift in Elena and Lucas' relationship