Chapter 11 - ELEANOR’S LAST MOVE
Eleanor was charged with conspiracy, assault, fraud, unlawful medical procedures, and obstruction.
The murder cases were still being built.
Everyone assumed she was finished.
They underestimated her.
Two days after her arrest, she made bail.
I found out from television.
I nearly threw the remote across the room.
“How?”
My attorney, Maya Reynolds, sighed.
“Money.”
“She’s accused of killing people.”
“She hasn’t been formally charged with homicide yet.”
“Then charge her.”
Maya gave me a look.
“I’m your lawyer, not the district attorney.”
I paced.
“This is insane.”
“You have police protection.”
“Rachel has a baby.”
“So does Eleanor.”
I stopped.
“What?”
Maya frowned.
“I mean in her mind.”
The words chilled me.
“She sees both children as assets.”
That night, police moved Rachel and her son to a secure hotel.
My parents stayed with me.
Julian wasn’t allowed inside unless I invited him.
I didn’t.
At 2:13 a.m., my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered before thinking.
“Hello?”
Eleanor’s voice came through.
“You’ve made a terrible mistake.”
I sat up.
My father woke instantly.
“Who is it?”
I held up a hand.
“Why are you calling me?”
Eleanor laughed softly.
“You think the police can protect you?”
I hit record.
“What do you want?”
“My family.”
“You mean the money.”
“You have no idea what that family built.”
“People died.”
“People always die.”
My blood froze.
“Did you kill Liam?”
Silence.
Then—
“My son died because he forgot his duty.”
It wasn’t a confession.
But it was close.
“What about Dr. Vale?”
“He was greedy.”
Dad was already calling police from another phone.
I kept Eleanor talking.
“You drugged me.”
“You were safe.”
“You violated me.”
“I created something important.”
I felt rage burn through every part of me.
“My child is not your project.”
“That child is a Sterling.”
“No.”
I put my hand over my stomach.
“This child is mine.”
Her voice hardened.
“Not for long.”
The line went dead.
Police traced the call.
She had used a prepaid phone.
By sunrise, Eleanor had disappeared.
Her passport was still in police custody.
Her car remained at the estate.
But she was gone.
Hayes arrived personally.
“We believe someone helped her.”
“Gordon?”
“In custody.”
“Then who?”
Julian appeared behind him.
He looked exhausted.
“I know.”
Everyone turned.
He held up his phone.
“My mother has a second property.”
Hayes frowned.
“We searched all registered assets.”
“It isn’t registered to her.”
“Whose name?”
Julian swallowed.
“Liam’s.”
Rachel went pale.
Julian opened a map.
“A lake house in New Hampshire.”
Hayes stared.
“The same lake where he died?”
Julian nodded.
My stomach clenched.
Then Rachel’s phone rang.
She answered.
Her face emptied.
“No.”
She dropped the phone.
“What?” I asked.
She looked at us.
“My sister.”
“What happened?”
May you like
Rachel’s voice broke.
“Eleanor took my son.”
