Chapter 8 - ELEANOR’S REAL SECRET
Ethan laughed.
It was a hollow sound.
“Of course.”
Claire watched him.
“What?”
“Every time we uncover one lie, another one appears underneath it.”
Mara folded the trust document.
“Julian wants you unstable.”
“Don’t give him what he wants.”
Ethan stared through the storage unit door.
“What if it’s true?”
Claire stepped closer.
“Then it changes biology.”
“Not your life.”
He looked at her.
“You don’t know that.”
“No.”
“But I know Julian chose the worst possible moment to tell you.”
“That means he wanted it to hurt more than he wanted it to help.”
Mara nodded.
“Listen to her.”
They reached Blackwood Lake at 11:56 p.m.
Police tactical teams remained hidden a mile away.
Claire carried a duplicate envelope.
The real trust remained with Mara.
Ethan wore a concealed microphone.
The boathouse door stood open.
Rosa sat tied to a chair.
Julian was nowhere visible.
Claire entered.
“Rosa.”
“I told you not to come.”
“I’m terrible at listening.”
Ethan stepped inside behind her.
A light snapped on.
Julian stood above them on the loft.
Two armed men appeared near the rear door.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Let her go.”
Julian descended slowly.
“The document.”
Claire held up the envelope.
“Rosa first.”
Julian smiled.
“You were always much braver than Eleanor understood.”
“Eleanor understood exactly enough to push me down a staircase.”
Julian’s smile faded.
“Yes.”
“That was sloppy.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You knew?”
“Of course.”
“You’re working together.”
Julian laughed.
“Eleanor and I stopped working together years ago.”
“She just hasn’t accepted it.”
He walked toward Claire.
“The trust.”
Claire handed him the envelope.
He opened it.
Blank paper.
His expression changed.
Police lights exploded outside.
“Now!”
Mara’s voice came through the darkness.
Julian’s men panicked.
One ran.
The other dropped his weapon.
Julian grabbed Rosa.
Ethan lunged.
They crashed against the railing.
Claire pulled Rosa away.
Julian swung at Ethan.
Ethan hit him back.
The rotten railing broke.
Julian fell into the lake below.
Officers rushed inside.
Mara looked over the edge.
“Search the water!”
Divers entered minutes later.
Julian was gone.
Only his coat floated near the dock.
Ethan stared at the black water.
“Just like my father.”
Claire stood beside him.
“No body.”
“No conclusion.”
Rosa wrapped a blanket around herself.
Then she looked toward the trees.
“Ethan.”
He turned.
Eleanor stood near the road.
Alone.
Her hands were visible.
Mara approached carefully.
“Mrs. Blackwood.”
Eleanor looked exhausted.
“Julian escaped?”
Mara did not answer.
Eleanor looked at Ethan.
“He will come back.”
Ethan’s voice was cold.
“Was he telling the truth?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Claire knew exactly which truth Ethan meant.
“Am I Richard’s son?”
Eleanor began crying.
Not dramatically.
Silently.
That frightened Ethan more.
“Answer me.”
“No.”
The word barely came out.
“You’re not.”
Ethan stepped backward.
Claire reached for him.
He moved away without realizing it.
Eleanor continued.
“Richard knew.”
“For how long?”
“Since you were sixteen.”
“And Julian?”
Eleanor’s silence answered.
Ethan stared at his mother.
“Julian is my father.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
She looked toward the lake.
“Harold Pierce.”
Ethan stared at her.
“The chairman?”
“Yes.”
Claire felt sick.
Harold had chaired the meeting trying to remove Ethan.
Ethan laughed again.
“My whole life…”
“Was everyone lying?”
Eleanor stepped toward him.
“Richard was your father.”
“You just said he wasn’t.”
“He raised you.”
“He loved you.”
“He chose you.”
“Then why was he removing me from the company?”
Eleanor looked confused.
“He wasn’t.”
“Julian said—”
“Julian lies when breathing would be easier.”
Claire looked at Eleanor.
“Why did you help him?”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“Because when Richard discovered the affair with Harold, he was going to leave me.”
“He was going to expose the foundation theft.”
“And he was going to tell you everything.”
“So you helped Julian stop him?”
“I helped Julian frighten him.”
“Not kill him.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You knew Julian drugged him.”
“I knew afterward.”
“You moved him to St. Agnes.”
“To keep Julian from finishing it.”
“You hid him from me for three years.”
“I thought Richard was safer hidden.”
Ethan looked furious.
“You don’t hide someone for three years to protect them.”
Eleanor’s eyes filled again.
“I know.”
Claire stared at her.
“Where is Richard now?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
“But he contacted me once.”
“When?”
“Eight months ago.”
Ethan froze.
“What did he say?”
“He told me Julian had discovered something far worse than the stolen money.”
“What?”
Eleanor looked toward the police officers.
Then back at Ethan.
“He found evidence Harold and Julian were working together.”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
“Control.”
“Harold controlled the board.”
“Julian controlled the stolen funds.”
“And Richard stood between them.”
Ethan slowly understood.
“My removal today.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Harold.”
Mara immediately called headquarters.
No answer.
She called again.
A detective picked up.
Mara spoke quickly.
“Find Harold Pierce.”
There was a pause.
Then Mara’s face changed.
“What?”
Ethan stepped closer.
She ended the call.
“Harold’s private jet left Chicago twenty minutes ago.”
“Destination?”
“Toronto.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
“He isn’t going to Canada.”
“How do you know?”
“Because that flight plan is a distraction.”
“Where is he going?”
Eleanor looked at Ethan.
“Your father’s old farmhouse.”
“Why?”
May you like
Eleanor whispered.
“Because that’s where Richard told me he was hiding.”
