Chapter 17 - The Breaking of Eleanor
By mid-afternoon, the walls were closing in on Eleanor Vance with terrifying speed.
With Richard in custody and Victoria Sterling’s legal assault dead in the water, Eleanor was left completely alone.
The high-society friends who had once filled her salon had scrubbed her name from every charitable committee in the state.
Her credit cards were declined at every grocer and boutique on the Upper East Side.
At four o'clock, Arthur called me from the steps of the county courthouse.
"It’s over, Paige," Arthur announced, his voice vibrating with deep, historic satisfaction.
"The surrogate judge threw out Eleanor’s forged diaries without even sending them to a master."
"He cited patent evidence of fraudulent manufacture."
"He also revoked Richard’s bail due to his violation of the protective order."
"Richard is facing eighteen months on criminal contempt and stalking charges."
"And Eleanor?" I asked, looking out at the gathering storm clouds over the river.
"Eleanor has been served with an immediate grand jury subpoena for perjury and filing false public instruments," Arthur replied.
"Her personal lawyer resigned twenty minutes ago."
"She has nothing left, Paige."
"She is sitting in that run-down suburban townhouse she leased, waiting for the marshals."
I hung up the phone and stood in the vast, quiet sanctuary Walter had left for my daughter.
I thought about the night Eleanor stood on the polished hardwood of her former mansion, sneering down at me.
I thought about the sound of my daughter’s stroller wheels rattling against the frozen sidewalk when they locked the iron gates in my face.
I thought about the cold that had seeped into my bones as I stood at the bus stop with fifteen dollars in my pocket.
Vengeance is an empty meal if it doesn't protect the future.
I put on my wool coat, kissed Gemma on the cheek while she napped in her crib, and took the elevator down to the garage.
Marcus met me at the base of the lift.
"Mrs. Vance, where are you going?"
May you like
"To finish this, Marcus," I said quietly.
"Drive me to Eleanor’s house."
