Chapter 13 - Shadows of the Past
Friday evening brought a rare moment of solitude. Nora drove out to the coastline, parking her Audi near the cliffs where Rosecliff Estate stood behind its imposing iron gates.
The estate looked different today. The white orchid crates were gone. The glass marquee pavilion had been dismantled, leaving only flattened squares of yellowed grass where thousands of dollars of stolen luxury had briefly bloomed.
A single security guard was stationed at the gatehouse. When he saw Nora’s car pull up, he stepped outside, recognizing the sleek Audi immediately.
“Afternoon, Ms. Whitman,” the guard said, leaning down to her window. “Checking out the property?”
“Just passing by,” Nora said, resting her hands lightly on the steering wheel. “Has the estate found a new client for the weekend?”
“They have,” the guard smiled. “A legitimate tech conglomerate from the city. Booked it six months in advance, paid wire transfers directly through commercial escrow, and cleared every financial audit before laying down a single napkin.”
Nora smiled faintly. “Good to hear.”
“You know,” the guard added, lowering his voice conspiratorially, “the owners of Rosecliff ran a background check on Caleb Ross after the police report dropped. Turns out, he tried to pull a similar stunt two years ago at a different venue down the coast, but backed out when they demanded an upfront escrow deposit.”
Nora felt a cold knot tighten in her chest. For years, Caleb had been practicing his cons, scaling them up step by step, testing limits until he finally hit her black card. She had simply been the biggest mark in a long line of small-time thefts.
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“Thank you for the update,” Nora said, putting the car in drive. “Have a good weekend.”
She pressed the gas, leaving the empty gates of Rosecliff Estate behind in her rearview mirror.
