Chapter 10 - HER OWN SON
Eleanor stared at the name.
“No.”
Sarah looked at the screen.
BENJAMIN WHITMORE.
Eleanor’s only son.
Sarah turned slowly.
“Benjamin?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“No.”
“Your husband named him.”
“No.”
“He named him.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“Eleanor.”
“No!”
She slammed the laptop shut.
“My son would never do this.”
Sarah’s voice softened.
“You don’t know that.”
“I know my child.”
Sarah glanced toward the window.
“So do I.”
Eleanor looked at her.
Sarah continued.
“And if Owen did something terrible, I would want it to be a lie too.”
Eleanor sank into a chair.
Benjamin Whitmore was forty-two.
Successful.
Charming.
A major donor.
Public face of the family foundation.
He had also been sitting beside Eleanor during her husband’s funeral.
Holding her hand.
Making speeches about integrity.
Sarah reopened the laptop.
“Let’s watch the rest.”
The video continued.
Eleanor’s husband explained that Benjamin had accumulated massive private debts.
Gambling.
Failed investments.
Hidden loans.
Richard helped him divert charitable funds through fake vendors.
At first it was thousands.
Then hundreds of thousands.
Then millions.
When Eleanor’s husband discovered the scheme, Benjamin begged him not to expose it.
Richard did not beg.
He threatened.
The final seconds of the video were the worst.
“If Benjamin knows I made this recording,” Eleanor’s husband said, “I don’t know what he’ll do.”
Eleanor began crying silently.
Sarah didn’t touch her.
Sometimes comfort was too small for the size of the pain.
A door opened downstairs.
The security guard shouted.
“Mrs. Whitmore?”
Eleanor quickly closed the laptop.
“What?”
“You have a visitor.”
“Who?”
A familiar voice answered from the hallway.
“Mom?”
Eleanor went still.
Benjamin appeared in the doorway.
Perfect gray suit.
Concerned expression.
He looked at Sarah.
Then at the laptop.
Then back at Eleanor.
“I heard about the shooting.”
Eleanor’s face revealed nothing.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
He walked closer.
“I’ve been calling you.”
“My phone was off.”
Benjamin hugged her.
Sarah watched his eyes.
They never stopped moving.
“What are you doing here?” Eleanor asked.
“Checking on my mother.”
“How did you know where I was?”
Benjamin smiled.
“Security told me.”
Sarah looked at the guard outside.
He looked confused.
Benjamin noticed.
For one brief second, the mask slipped.
Then he smiled again.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.”
He looked at Sarah.
“And you must be Sarah.”
She didn’t offer her hand.
“You know my name?”
“Everyone knows your name after last night.”
“Interesting.”
Benjamin chuckled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
His eyes moved toward the laptop again.
Then he said,
“Mom, can I speak to you alone?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“No.”
Benjamin’s smile tightened.
“Please.”
“No.”
Silence.
Then Benjamin sighed.
“Fine.”
He sat.
“So tell me.”
May you like
He looked directly at the laptop.
“What did Dad leave behind?”
