Chapter 12 - THE LAKE HOUSE
Everything happened fast after that.
Rachel’s sister had taken the baby outside for five minutes.
A black SUV pulled up.
Two people grabbed her.
By the time police arrived, the SUV was gone.
Rachel collapsed.
“I shouldn’t have trusted anyone.”
I held her.
“This is not your fault.”
Julian looked at Hayes.
“She’s going to the lake house.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
His face was pale.
“When Mom feels threatened, she goes there.”
Hayes radioed state police.
“We move now.”
I insisted on going.
Everyone objected.
“No.”
“You’re pregnant.”
“She called me.”
Hayes stared at me.
“She wants something from me.”
That changed the room.
Julian stepped forward.
“You’re not bait.”
“I’m already bait.”
We compromised.
I rode with Hayes but remained behind the tactical team.
The drive took nearly three hours.
Snow started falling as we crossed into New Hampshire.
The lake house appeared through the trees.
Dark wood.
Stone chimney.
Lights burning inside.
A black SUV sat outside.
Rachel sobbed.
“My baby.”
Hayes held her back.
“Wait.”
Officers surrounded the property.
Then my phone rang.
Eleanor.
Hayes nodded.
“Answer.”
I did.
“Where is he?”
“Safe.”
“You kidnapped a baby.”
“I recovered my grandson.”
“He is Rachel’s son.”
“He is Liam’s son.”
“He’s not property.”
“You still don’t understand.”
Her voice sounded calm.
Too calm.
“I need you to come inside.”
“No.”
“Then Rachel will never see her child again.”
Hayes shook his head.
I said, “I’m coming.”
Julian grabbed my arm.
“Chloe.”
I looked at him.
“She wants me.”
“She wants the baby you’re carrying.”
“I know.”
Hayes fitted a microphone beneath my coat.
“You do exactly what I say.”
I nodded.
The walk to the house felt endless.
Snow crunched under my shoes.
The door opened before I knocked.
Eleanor stood there.
She looked elegant even as a fugitive.
“Come in.”
I stepped inside.
The baby was sleeping in a bassinet near the fireplace.
Alive.
Safe.
I exhaled.
“You’re insane.”
Eleanor smiled.
“Such an ugly word.”
“Give him back.”
“Soon.”
She poured herself a drink.
“Do you know why Liam died here?”
I stared.
“Because you killed him.”
“No.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Because he tried to take everything away from me.”
“That’s the same answer.”
She walked to the window.
“I built Sterling Holdings after my husband became ill.”
“Then why didn’t he leave it to you?”
“Because men like him believed women should manage homes, not empires.”
For the first time, I saw the root of her obsession.
Not an excuse.
But a beginning.
“I spent thirty years building what everyone credited to my husband.”
“And then you decided everyone belonged to you.”
She turned.
“You think I enjoyed any of this?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes flashed.
“I preserved a dynasty.”
“You murdered your son.”
“He forced my hand.”
The words hit the room like a gunshot.
I stared.
Behind the walls, police heard everything.
“Say that again.”
She realized.
Too late.
Then her gaze dropped to my coat.
To the tiny bump where the microphone wire showed.
Her face changed.
“You stupid girl.”
May you like
She reached behind her back.
And pulled out a gun.
