Chapter 11
Sparks hissed as they hit the damp floorboards of the boathouse. Eleanor stood breathing heavily over the ruined transmitter, her white dress stained with soot and motor oil, her immaculate hair coming undone around her face.
Julian coughed, struggling to push the guard off his chest, but the larger man slammed a heavy fist down near Julian’s head, pinning him back to the concrete.
“It’s too late, Eleanor,” Julian wheezed, a defiant grin breaking through the dirt and blood on his face. “The packet reached Washington three minutes ago. The audit is already underway. Your bank accounts are frozen as of right now.”
Eleanor’s face contorted into an expression of sheer, unadulterated rage. She raised the heavy metal wrench, her eyes locked on Julian’s head. “Then I’ll make sure there’s nothing left to audit.”
Before Eleanor could bring the wrench down, the heavy wooden door of the boathouse—already hanging loosely by its remaining hinge—was kicked completely off its frame with a resounding crash.
Flashing red and blue lights painted the rain-slicked interior of the boathouse in dramatic strokes. Two state trooper vehicles had broken through the estate’s security gates, their sirens wailing over the storm.
“Federal and State Police! Drop your weapons!” a voice boomed from the doorway, amplified by a loudspeaker.
The two tactical guards froze instantly, raising their hands slowly into the air and stepping away from Julian. Eleanor spun around, her eyes widening in horror as she saw the armed troopers pouring through the entrance, their weapons drawn and trained directly on her.
“This is a mistake!” Eleanor shouted, her voice shrill and desperate as she dropped the wrench onto the floor. “I am the victim here! They broke into my property!”
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Julian pushed himself up from the floor, wiping blood from his lip as he watched the troopers swarm the boathouse, placing the guards in handcuffs and reading Eleanor her rights. Eleanor’s cold, composed facade finally shattered completely, her knees buckling as she was handcuffed and led out into the rain.
Julian didn’t watch her leave. He turned his head, scanning the shadows near the broken window until he caught sight of Grace standing in the doorway, shivering intensely, holding the golden retriever safely in her arms.
