Chapter 6 - The Shadows of Blackwood Bay
The blue and red strobes of six state police cruisers painted the wet limestone façade of Oakridge Manor in a harsh, rhythmic glare. Detectives and federal agents swarmed the grand foyer, their heavy boots squeaking against the polished marble that had once felt so untouchable to Victoria Vance.
In the grand salon, the illusion had completely shattered.
Victoria sat on the edge of the velvet sofa, hand-cuffed behind her back, her pristine ivory dress stained with mud from her failed attempt to bolt through the terrace gardens. Beside her, her mother, Evelyn, was weeping hysterical, helpless tears into a silk handkerchief while a female state trooper read them their constitutional rights.
Across the room, Carter Sterling was being led down the grand staircase in leg irons, his jaw swollen and purple where Harrison’s pistol had struck him. He refused to look his brother in the eye, staring blankly at the floorboards as he was marched out into the cold November rain.
Harrison stood near the fireplace, holding little Julian tightly against his hip. Thaddeus Aldridge stood beside them, holding a secure satellite phone connected directly to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"The extradition warrants for the two drivers in the video are already being processed," Aldridge said softly, his dry voice ringing with quiet satisfaction. "One of them was picked up an hour ago at a border crossing in Maine. He’s already talking, Harrison. He confirmed Carter paid them to take Eleanor to a secluded medical facility near the Canadian border, while Victoria orchestrated the crash at Blackwood Bay to fake the deaths."
Harrison felt a cold surge of electricity run through his veins. "A medical facility? Then Eleanor... she wasn't at the cabin with Julian?"
"No," Aldridge replied, his eyes darkening. "Victoria had her committed under a false identity to a private, off-the-grid psychiatric asylum in Quebec. They kept her heavily sedated for six years to keep her from revealing the truth about the Sterling trust."
Harrison’s grip on his son tightened. "She’s alive."
Julian looked up at his father, his sea-green eyes clear and calm despite the chaos surrounding them. "I told you, Daddy. Mommy is waiting in the snow. The nice lady who brought me here... she said Mommy sent her to find Mr. Aldridge."
Harrison dropped to his knees,cupping Julian’s face in his large, scarred hands. "Who was the nice lady, Julian? What was her name?"
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"Sister Claire," Julian whispered. "From the convent near the trees. She helped me hide when the mean men came back to burn the cabin."
Harrison looked up at Aldridge, his dark eyes burning with an absolute, lethal focus. "Get the helicopter ready. We’re flying to Quebec tonight."
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