Chapter 2 - The Lie Leo Had Been Taught
“You are not locking me inside my own home.”
Victoria marched toward the nearest security guard.
“Open those doors.”
The guard didn’t move.
Victoria stared at him.
“You work for me.”
“No, ma’am.”
Julian answered from behind her.
“They work for the company that owns tonight’s security contract.”
Victoria spun around.
“And who owns that company?”
“I do.”
Julian walked toward the center of the ballroom.
Sarah barely heard him.
Leo was still pressed against her.
She touched his cheek.
“When did you last eat?”
He shrugged.
“Lunch.”
“It’s almost nine.”
“Grandma said I couldn’t have dinner because I spilled juice on my shirt.”
Sarah slowly raised her eyes toward Victoria.
Victoria immediately pointed at the boy.
“Children exaggerate.”
“He’s seven.”
“And you haven’t raised him in five years, so spare me the parenting lecture.”
Sarah flinched.
Victoria saw it.
And smiled.
That smile hurt worse than the insult.
Five years.
Five years of supervised visits.
Five years of birthday presents returned unopened.
Five Christmas mornings spent staring at photographs because Victoria always found some legal excuse to cancel Sarah’s visitation.
Five years of hearing that she was unstable, irresponsible and dangerous.
Julian held up his phone.
“You told your attorneys Sarah had been harassing you.”
“She has.”
“You told the family court she repeatedly tried to enter your property.”
“She did.”
Julian tapped the screen.
A recording filled the ballroom.
Victoria’s own voice.
“Make sure the staffing agency sends Sarah Mitchell. Tell them I specifically requested her.”
Another voice answered.
“Why?”
“Because I want her serving drinks at my party.”
Several guests turned toward Victoria.
The recording continued.
“And if she refuses?”
“Tell the agency she won’t be paid.”
Sarah stared at Victoria.
“You requested me?”
Victoria’s eyes hardened.
“You needed work.”
“You brought me here to humiliate me.”
“I gave you an opportunity.”
“To dance for your friends?”
“Don’t pretend you’re above it.”
Sarah took one step forward.
Julian gently blocked her.
“Not yet.”
He pulled several papers from the envelope.
“The humiliation is ugly.”
He looked at Victoria.
“But it isn’t why the police are coming.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“You’re being dramatic.”
Julian held up the first document.
“This is the emergency guardianship petition filed five years ago.”
Sarah knew every line of it.
She had read that petition until she could quote it from memory.
Sarah Mitchell voluntarily abandoned minor child.
Sarah Mitchell demonstrated unstable behavior.
Sarah Mitchell was under investigation for financial theft from Sterling family accounts.
None of it had been true.
But Victoria had lawyers.
Sarah had a public defender and sixty-three dollars in her checking account.
Julian raised a second paper.
“And this is the document supposedly signed by Sarah agreeing that temporary guardianship could continue.”
Sarah frowned.
“I never signed that.”
“I know.”
Victoria laughed.
“Oh, please.”
Julian turned the page toward the guests.
“Because a forensic document examiner finished analyzing the original yesterday.”
Victoria stopped laughing.
Julian looked straight at her.
“Sarah’s signature was forged.”
The room erupted.
Phones came up again.
Victoria backed away.
“This is ridiculous.”
Sarah’s knees suddenly felt weak.
“You knew?”
She stared at Julian.
“You knew yesterday?”
“I needed proof before I contacted you.”
“You could have called me.”
“I should have.”
Leo tugged Sarah’s sleeve.
“Mommy?”
She looked down.
He seemed terrified.
“What is it?”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“Is Daddy dead because of you?”
Sarah’s heart stopped.
“What?”
Leo looked toward Victoria.
“Grandma said you made Daddy crash.”
Sarah slowly turned.
Victoria’s face gave away nothing.
Sarah felt something inside her break open.
She had spent years believing Victoria hated her.
Now she understood.
Victoria had done something much worse.
She had taught Sarah’s own son to fear her.
Sarah crouched in front of Leo.
“Listen to me.”
She took his hands.
“I loved your dad.”
“Then why did Grandma say you tried to kill him?”
Sarah couldn’t answer.
Not because she didn’t know.
Because behind Leo, Julian had suddenly gone pale.
He was staring at one of the papers.
“Julian?”
He didn’t respond.
“What is it?”
Julian raised his eyes.
“Victoria didn’t invent that story after the crash.”
Sarah stood.
“What does that mean?”
“It means somebody accused you before Ethan died.”
Victoria moved toward the staircase.
Security stopped her.
Julian pulled another envelope from the folder.
It was yellowed with age.
On the front were five handwritten words.
OPEN IF ETHAN STERLING DIES.
Sarah recognized the handwriting.
Her husband’s.
Julian looked at her.
“This was delivered to my office three hours ago.”
Sarah could barely breathe.
“Who had it?”
“Ethan’s attorney.”
Julian broke the seal.
Inside was a letter.
May you like
And a small brass key.
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