Chapter 13 - THE DEAD JUDGE’S CONFESSION
Whitmore had spent decades pretending to be Charles Sterling’s friend.
In reality, Charles had blackmailed him since law school.
Whitmore wanted the archive destroyed.
Eleanor wanted it controlled.
Their alliance had always been temporary.
Arthur saw it before Eleanor did.
Whitmore reached into his jacket.
Daniel moved.
Too late.
Whitmore held a small remote.
“If I press this, every file in Project Crown goes public.”
Eleanor stared.
“That wasn’t our agreement.”
“No.”
“It was never going to be.”
For the first time, Eleanor looked afraid.
Arthur almost laughed.
She had finally met someone who had lied better than she did.
Whitmore looked at Maya.
“Your mother wanted this destroyed.”
Maya stared at him.
“You promised to protect her.”
“I tried.”
“You let her die.”
Whitmore lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Maya’s voice shook.
“Then you don’t get to pretend you’re doing this for her.”
Whitmore looked at the remote.
“You’re right.”
He handed it to Maya.
Everyone froze.
“You decide.”
Eleanor shouted.
“Don’t!”
Maya looked at the button.
Publishing everything would expose criminals.
But it would also expose victims.
Private medical records.
Affairs.
Children.
People who had been coerced.
Arthur stepped toward her.
“Don’t become Charles.”
Maya looked at him.
Then smashed the remote beneath her shoe.
Eleanor lunged toward the drive.
Claire reached it first.
She threw it to Daniel.
Daniel placed it inside an evidence bag.
Eleanor stared at them.
Then smiled again.
Arthur’s stomach tightened.
That smile.
The same smile from the ballroom.
He knew it now.
Whenever Eleanor smiled after losing—
it meant she hadn’t lost.
Eleanor slowly raised her phone.
“I made a copy.”
Arthur froze.
“Twenty minutes ago.”
She pressed SEND.
Across the room, every screen turned red.
UPLOAD IN PROGRESS.
1%.
2%.
3%.
Arthur stared.
“Where are you sending it?”
May you like
Eleanor smiled.
“Everywhere.”
