Chapter 13: The Sister Who Sold Them Out
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Eleanor stood at the bottom of the staircase, holding the silver pistol with both hands.
Martha stared at her younger sister.
The same woman who had once braided her hair before school.
The same woman who had cried at their mother's funeral.
The same woman Martha had mourned for eleven years.
Now she was pointing a gun at the man Martha had waited thirty years to see again.
"Put it down, Eleanor.""
Martha's voice trembled.
Eleanor shook her head.
"I can't.""
"He's your brother-in-law.""
"I know.""
"Then what are you doing?""
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"Trying to keep you alive.""
Frank stepped forward.
"Don't listen to her, Martha.""
Eleanor pointed the gun more directly at him.
"Stay where you are.""
Frank stopped.
Wade slowly moved his right hand toward his jacket.
Eleanor noticed.
"Don't even think about it, Wade.""
He raised both hands.
"All right. Nobody needs to get hurt.""
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
"That's what everyone said thirty years ago.""
Martha looked at her sister.
"Thomas is controlling you.""
"No.""
"Richard?""
"No.""
"Then who?""
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"Nobody controls me.""
She gestured toward Lucas's laptop.
"Close it.""
Lucas didn't move.
"There's nothing on it that can hurt you.""
Eleanor laughed.
"You're a clever boy. But you have no idea what you've uncovered.""
Martha stepped closer.
"Tell me the truth.""
Eleanor's eyes shifted toward her.
"The truth?""
She lowered the pistol slightly.
"Do you remember the night Mother died?""
Martha nodded.
"Of course.""
"Do you remember who stayed beside her in the hospital?""
"You did.""
"And do you remember what she told us?""
Martha frowned.
"She said she loved us.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"She told me something else.""
Her voice cracked.
"She said Thomas had threatened to take everything from us. She said he would destroy anyone who tried to claim the inheritance.""
Frank looked at her.
"Your mother knew Thomas was dangerous.""
"She knew more than you ever did.""
Eleanor pointed toward the music box.
"She gave me the original documents. She trusted me to hide them.""
Martha stared.
"You told me you didn't know where they were.""
"I lied.""
"Why?""
"Because I needed Henry to believe I was helping him.""
Wade frowned.
"You're saying you've been working with them?""
Eleanor nodded.
"For thirty years.""
Martha stepped backward.
"No.""
"Yes.""
"You helped them make us believe Frank was dead?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"I helped them keep you from being killed.""
Frank's voice became sharp.
"That's not the same thing.""
Eleanor looked at him.
"You think I wanted this? You think I enjoyed watching my sister spend thirty years alone?""
"Then why didn't you stop it?""
"Because every time I tried, they reminded me what would happen to Martha.""
Martha shook her head.
"You could have told me.""
"And put a target on your back?""
"You already did!""
The words echoed through the house.
Eleanor's pistol trembled.
For a moment, she looked like the little girl Martha remembered.
Then she straightened.
"Give me the silver key.""
Lucas looked at the small key on the table.
"What does it open?""
Eleanor didn't answer.
Frank slowly reached into his pocket.
"I have it.""
Martha turned toward him.
"When did you get that?""
Frank looked at Eleanor.
"From the original engine compartment. I removed it before I disappeared.""
Eleanor's expression changed.
"You found it?""
Frank nodded.
"And I know what's inside.""
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
Eleanor raised the pistol.
Wade moved.
He knocked a chair into her legs.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Frank grabbed Eleanor's wrist while Wade forced the weapon away.
It hit the floor.
Lucas rushed forward and kicked it beneath the sofa.
Eleanor collapsed into a chair.
Martha stood over her, shaking.
"How could you?""
Eleanor looked up.
"Because I was trying to save you.""
"Stop saying that!""
Martha slapped the table.
"You made me mourn my husband. You let me believe you were dead. You watched Emily grow up without her father. And now you're telling me you did it all for me?""
Eleanor began crying.
"I'm sorry.""
Martha turned away.
"Sorry doesn't give me back thirty years.""
Frank approached Eleanor.
"Who sent you here?""
She wiped her face.
"Thomas.""
"Where is he?""
"I don't know.""
Frank stared at her.
"Don't lie.""
Eleanor looked toward the window.
"He has people everywhere. He contacted me this morning. He told me the motorcycle had been found and that the evidence needed to be recovered.""
"What evidence?""
"The original ledger.""
Lucas leaned forward.
"The forty-three names?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Every name. Every transaction. Every payment. The entire network.""
Wade looked at Frank.
"Then why did Thomas say the money was inside the engine?""
"Because the money isn't money," Frank replied.
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded piece of paper.
"It's a list of assets. Properties. Accounts.
Companies. Everything purchased with stolen money over forty years.""
Lucas stared.
"That's worth more than the trust.""
"Much more," Frank said.
Martha looked at Eleanor.
"Why did Thomas want the documents now?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Because he's dying.""
Nobody spoke.
"He has a terminal illness. His doctors gave him less than six months. He wants to transfer everything before he dies.""
Wade shook his head.
"That's why he contacted us?""
Eleanor nodded.
"He wants the inheritance signed over. He wants Lucas to become the legal owner of the assets, then take responsibility for the criminal network.""
Lucas looked sick.
"So I'd inherit the crimes too.""
"Yes.""
Frank's face hardened.
"He's trying to make you the last man standing.""
A sudden noise came from outside.
Duke's voice shouted:
"Everybody down!""
A window shattered.
Wade pulled Martha to the floor.
Another gunshot struck the kitchen wall.
Frank grabbed Eleanor and dragged her behind the table.
Lucas shut the laptop.
Through the broken window, a voice shouted:
"Give us the ledger!""
Wade looked toward the back door.
"How many?""
Duke shouted from outside.
"At least four!""
Frank looked at Eleanor.
"Did you bring them here?""
She shook her head desperately.
"No. I swear.""
Martha stared at her sister.
For once, Eleanor looked genuinely terrified.
Then Frank reached for the small silver key.
"We have to get to the motorcycle.""
Wade frowned.
"Now?""
"Now.""
Frank looked toward the window.
"Because if Thomas gets the ledger, he'll destroy the only evidence that can expose all forty-three names.""
Lucas grabbed his laptop.
"Then let's go.""
But as they moved toward the back entrance, Eleanor caught Martha's hand.
"Wait.""
She leaned close and whispered:
"There's one name on that ledger you need to see before you trust anybody again.""
Martha frowned.
"Whose?""
May you like
Eleanor looked toward Wade.
"His.""
