Chapter 2 - CHECK THE CAMERAS
Eleanor Whitmore walked down the staircase slowly.
Nobody spoke.
Richard released Sarah’s wrist immediately.
“Eleanor, this isn’t what it looks like.”
Eleanor stopped in front of him.
“That sentence usually means it is exactly what it looks like.”
Richard forced a laugh.
“There was a misunderstanding.”
Sarah pointed at Owen.
“He knocked my son down.”
Richard spun toward her.
“You need to stop lying.”
“I’m not lying.”
“He was blocking the hallway.”
“He’s twelve.”
“He hit me with his crutch first.”
Owen looked up.
“I did not!”
Richard snapped, “Stay out of this.”
Sarah stepped forward.
“Do not speak to my son.”
Eleanor raised one hand.
“That’s enough.”
Her voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
The room obeyed.
Eleanor looked at Sarah.
“Your name?”
“Sarah Mitchell.”
“And your son?”
“Owen.”
Eleanor knelt beside him.
“Hello, Owen.”
“Hi.”
“Can you move your toes?”
Owen tried.
His face tightened.
“A little.”
Eleanor looked up at Sarah.
“Call an ambulance.”
Richard immediately protested.
“That’s ridiculous. He fell.”
Sarah’s eyes flashed.
“You kicked him.”
“I barely touched him!”
Eleanor stood.
“Richard.”
He stopped.
She looked toward the wall.
Above a carved wooden doorway was a small black security camera.
Then another.
And another.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed.
“Fortunately, we don’t need to guess.”
Sarah pointed at the cameras.
“Exactly. Check the security footage.”
Richard’s expression changed.
Just for half a second.
But Sarah saw it.
Fear.
“That won’t be necessary,” he said quickly.
Eleanor looked at him.
“Why not?”
“Because this is turning into a spectacle.”
“You knocked down a disabled child in front of sixty people.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Then the video will clear your name.”
Richard opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then reached for his phone.
“I have to make a call.”
Eleanor stepped in front of him.
“No.”
He stared at her.
“Excuse me?”
“You will stay right here until security brings me the footage.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“I don’t take orders from you.”
A few people gasped.
Eleanor smiled.
It was not a warm smile.
“That’s interesting.”
“What is?”
“You’ve spent three years telling people how powerful you are because of your relationship with my family.”
Richard glanced around.
“Eleanor…”
She stepped closer.
“You might want to remember whose family it actually is.”
Richard’s face darkened.
Then the elevator doors opened.
Two hotel security guards stepped out.
One carried a tablet.
“Mrs. Whitmore,” he said.
“We found the footage.”
Richard turned toward the exit.
“I’m leaving.”
He took three fast steps.
Then a voice stopped him.
“Sir. Step away from the door immediately.”
A uniformed police officer stood in the entrance.
Richard froze.
Sarah stared.
The officer put one hand near his belt.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Richard slowly raised his hands.
“This is insane.”
The security guard handed the tablet to Eleanor.
“Ma’am,” he said quietly, “you’re going to want to see this.”
May you like
Eleanor pressed play.
Ten seconds later, her face went completely white.
