Before Carter could reach the fourth step a side door burst open.
The house maid Sarah ran into the main hall holding a paper.
Her grey uniform was wrinkled and her apron was completely torn.
She was breathing heavily as if she had just escaped from a trap.
Tears streamed down her pale cheeks in front of everyone present.
Maid: Mr. Carter, please help us before it is too late!
Carter turned around quickly and moved toward the frightened maid.
Carter: Sarah, what happened to you inside this house?
Maid: Chloe locked me inside the basement pantry since yesterday morning!
Chloe: Stop lying to my stepson this instant, you foolish girl!
Chloe shouted from the balcony above with a sharp harsh tone.
Chloe: She was fired this morning for stealing expensive silver spoons!
Maid: I never stole anything from this honorable family in my life!
Sarah reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a folded paper.
Her hands shook violently as she held the official legal document out.
Maid: I found this paper dropped inside Mrs. Bennett's hidden cabinet!
Carter snatched the paper from Sarah's trembling fingers immediately.
He unfolded the document while the bright daylight hit the written words.
His eyes scanned the heavy bold print at the very top line.
It was an urgent authorization form for an immediate private body cremation.
The document claimed that Mrs. Bennett had passed away from heart failure.
It was signed with a hasty fake signature at the bottom corner.
Carter: The cremation is scheduled for today at noon?!
Carter shouted in absolute shock as his face turned pale with anger.
The date printed on the official seal was today's exact morning date.
Carter: She is not even sick enough to be in a hospital!
Chloe: That paper is just a misunderstanding, Carter, listen to me!
Chloe panicked as she backed away from the railing upstairs.
Carter: You planned to dispose of her before anyone could investigate!
Maid: She locked your grandmother in the old east wing locked room!
Sarah pointed toward the narrow dark hallway behind the big kitchen.
Maid: She tried to force her to sign over the land trust!
Carter felt a surge of explosive fury deep inside his chest.
He looked up at Chloe with pure outrage in his dark eyes.
Carter: You monster, you tried to erase her completely from life!