Chapter 9 - Eleanor Tried to Buy My Silence, but Her Own Son Had Already Turned Over the Evidence
I didn't touch the contract.
"My mother died last winter," I said.
"She doesn't belong in this conversation."
Eleanor tapped the certificate.
"Debts have consequences."
I stood.
"So do threats."
Her face hardened.
"You won't leave this estate with that attitude."
A security officer appeared behind me.
For one moment, I thought I had miscalculated.
Then he stepped aside.
Two federal investigators entered the room.
Eleanor stared at their credentials.
"This is private property."
"We have a warrant," one replied.
I stepped into the hallway.
Adrian waited beside the staircase.
He didn't reach for me.
He simply asked whether I was safe.
I nodded.
His shoulders lowered.
Investigators searched the east wing.
They collected the recording.
They photographed the bedroom.
They seized company servers and correspondence.
Eleanor's chief financial officer arrived unexpectedly.
He tried to leave through the service entrance.
Agents stopped him beside the fountain.
By sunset, reporters surrounded the gates.
The Blackwood name appeared on every screen.
Adrian watched the coverage in silence.
"They'll say I knew," he murmured.
"What did you know?" I asked.
"Not enough."
"Then tell them that."
He looked at Noah sleeping on the sofa.
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"I should have asked better questions."
I didn't disagree.
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