Chapter 6 - ELEANOR’S SECRET
Sarah immediately called the police.
Within an hour, an officer took the message, the photo, and screenshots.
“Can you prove Richard sent it?” he asked.
“No.”
“Any other contact?”
She showed him the lawyer’s messages.
The officer frowned.
“We’ll document everything.”
“Document?”
“Yes.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means if this escalates—”
“It already escalated.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
Sarah kept her voice low because Owen was resting.
“A grown man kicked my son. Then his lawyer offered me money. Now somebody is photographing my home.”
The officer nodded.
“I agree it’s concerning.”
“Concerning?”
“Mrs. Mitchell—”
“I want protection.”
“We need evidence linking the threat to him.”
Sarah laughed bitterly.
“So he gets to terrify me until he signs his name?”
The officer didn’t answer.
A knock came at the hospital door.
Eleanor Whitmore entered carrying a small paper bag.
Sarah stared.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see Owen.”
Owen looked up.
“You’re the lady from the hotel.”
“I am.”
Eleanor smiled.
“I brought blueberry muffins.”
Owen looked at Sarah.
Sarah nodded.
“Okay.”
After Owen started eating, Eleanor asked Sarah to step into the hall.
Sarah crossed her arms.
“If you’re here to offer me money too, save your breath.”
“I’m not.”
“Then what?”
Eleanor looked exhausted.
Not rich.
Not powerful.
Just tired.
“Richard has been connected to my family’s foundation for three years.”
“I gathered that.”
“He was originally brought in to manage corporate partnerships.”
“And?”
“And six months ago I found financial irregularities.”
Sarah frowned.
“What kind?”
“Missing money.”
“How much?”
“Potentially millions.”
Sarah stared at her.
“Why wasn’t he arrested?”
“Because I had suspicions, not proof.”
“And last night?”
“He threatened me because he thinks I’m afraid of what he knows.”
“Are you?”
Eleanor looked directly at her.
“Yes.”
Sarah didn’t expect honesty.
“Why?”
“Because if Richard stole from us, he didn’t do it alone.”
Sarah crossed her arms tighter.
“Who helped him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how does this involve me?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“There’s something you should see.”
She pulled out her phone.
A photograph filled the screen.
It showed Richard standing beside a man at a restaurant.
Sarah’s stomach twisted.
She recognized the man immediately.
“That’s my boss.”
Eleanor nodded.
Sarah looked closer.
On the table between the two men was a folder bearing the logo of Sarah’s company.
“What is this?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“When was it taken?”
“Three weeks ago.”
Sarah’s pulse quickened.
Eleanor swiped to another image.
Richard.
Her boss.
And Mr. Jensen.
Sarah’s landlord.
All sitting at the same table.
Sarah stopped breathing.
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No. That’s impossible.”
Eleanor’s voice was quiet.
“I think Richard didn’t learn where you worked and lived after the incident.”
Sarah stared at the photograph.
“I think he already knew.”
A cold wave moved through her.
“Why?”
Eleanor swallowed.
“Because Sarah…”
May you like
She turned the phone toward her again.
“…I don’t think Owen was in Richard’s way by accident.”
