Chapter 49 - Footsteps in the fog
"You framed Ethan?" Lily’s voice trembled with righteous fury. "He spent ten years protecting your name while you hid like a coward!"
"I built the trade routes that fed this family!" Eleanor’s composure cracked for a fraction of a second, her voice sharpening like a blade. "Arthur was going to give the entire holding company to an orphanage foundation because he thought capitalism was corrupt! I took the capital overseas to ensure our name survived. And now, this company belongs to the person with the courage to run it."
From the shadows behind the archway, Grace stepped forward, her weapon held at the low-ready position. "The federal marshals aren't at the gate, Eleanor."
Eleanor didn't flinch. She simply tilted her head. "Is that the bodyguard Arthur hired from the private security firm? You're out of your jurisdiction, Captain Mercer."
"I called the United States Attorney’s Office fifteen minutes ago," Grace said evenly. "Using the emergency transponder frequency your late father-in-law gave to the Department of Defense. The convoy approaching the estate right now isn't Vance’s mercenaries, and it isn't your private security. It’s the maritime division of the FBI."
Eleanor’s eyes shifted slightly toward the outer driveway. Through the dense curtain of rain, the distant wail of multiple sirens began to echo through the valley, growing louder with every passing second.
"They won't find anything on me," Eleanor said coldly, reaching for the briefcase to close it. "Everything I hold is registered under diplomatic immunity through the Panamanian consulate."
"Not anymore," Lily said clearly.
May you like
She held up the silver key Arthur had given her. "Grandfather didn't just give me the frequency override for the house. He registered the master encryption key for your foreign accounts under my birth certificate. I locked your access ten minutes ago from the sub-level terminal."
Eleanor froze, her hand hovering over the briefcase, the absolute shock draining the color from her perfectly made-up face.
