Chapter 3 - LAOCKED OUT OF TRUTH
The ambulance sped away into the darkness, leaving Eleanor behind.
The heat from the dying fire warmed her skin, but inside she felt frozen.
Richard pulled out his smartphone and made a quick call.
"Detective Vance, it's Richard," he said into the phone.
"The maid has confessed to arson."
"Send a team to arrest her immediately."
Eleanor froze in absolute horror.
"You swore you wouldn't call the police if I confessed!" Eleanor yelled.
Richard chuckled softly, putting his phone back into his pocket.
"I promised I wouldn't ruin your brother's life," Richard corrected coldly.
"I said nothing about keeping you out of prison."
Eleanor realized she had fallen into a deadly trap.
She looked at Officer Miller, hoping for help.
Officer Miller looked away, deliberately avoiding her eyes.
He had already been bought by the Sterling family long ago.
"Hands behind your back, Eleanor," Officer Miller said coldly.
He pulled out a set of steel handcuffs from his belt.
"No! You can't do this! They set the fire themselves!" Eleanor screamed.
She turned around and began to run toward the treeline.
Her tired legs pumped as hard as they could through the thick grass.
"Stop her!" Victoria shrieked from behind.
Officer Miller drew his flashlight and sprinted after her.
Eleanor ran blindly into the dark forest bordering the estate.
Branches scraped against her face and tore her dress.
She stumbled over a hidden tree root and fell hard onto the dirt.
The flashlight beam swept across the ground just inches away from her.
Eleanor held her breath and pressed her body flat against the mud.
"Where did she go?" another officer’s voice barked nearby.
"She can't have gone far on foot," Officer Miller replied.
Eleanor stayed completely motionlessness in the pitch-black woods.
She waited until the search party moved deeper into the forest.
Slowly, she dragged herself up, covered in mud and ash.
She couldn't go back to her apartment.
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They would be waiting for her there.
She needed to find Leo before Richard’s men did.
