Chapter 19 - Mother and Son
The drive to Connecticut was silent.
Evelyn sat beside Caleb.
June sat behind them.
Victor followed with Thomas.
At Margaret’s estate, the gates were open.
Meredith waited on the steps.
Her face was bruised.
Caleb got out.
“Where’s Elara?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where’s Gabriel?”
“Inside.”
“And Margaret?”
“Inside.”
June approached.
Meredith looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
June did not stop.
“Save it for court.”
Meredith lowered her eyes.
They entered.
Margaret sat in the drawing room.
Gabriel stood near the fireplace.
He was fifty-nine.
Tall.
Gray at the temples.
He looked like Evelyn.
Enough that Caleb felt another shock.
Gabriel smiled.
“Brother.”
Caleb did not respond.
“Where is Elara?”
“Safe.”
“I want her.”
“You will.”
Margaret stood.
“Enough theatrics.”
Gabriel glanced at her.
Something in the look suggested tension.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Mother.”
Margaret stared at her daughter.
“You look tired.”
Evelyn laughed softly.
“You look exactly the same.”
Margaret smiled.
“Discipline.”
Caleb wanted to lunge at her.
June caught his sleeve.
Gabriel noticed.
“Still impulsive.”
Caleb looked at him.
“You kidnapped a baby.”
“Victor kidnapped her.”
“And you kept her.”
“To protect her.”
“From who?”
Gabriel pointed at Margaret.
The room froze.
Margaret did not react.
Caleb stared.
“What?”
Gabriel’s expression hardened.
“She ordered Meredith to make the nursery incident happen.”
Meredith whispered, “Yes.”
Margaret looked at her daughter.
“Careful.”
Meredith began shaking.
Gabriel continued.
“She told Meredith to injure Elara enough to create a custody crisis.”
Caleb stepped toward Margaret.
“You told her to burn my daughter?”
“No.”
Meredith interrupted.
“She told me to make it look like June hurt her.”
“That is not the same thing.”
June’s face showed disgust.
Margaret continued calmly.
“Meredith chose the method.”
Caleb looked at her.
Two guilty people.
Different degrees.
Same child harmed.
“Where is Elara?”
Gabriel walked toward a locked door.
He entered a code.
Inside was a live video monitor.
Elara slept in a nearby guesthouse.
Two nurses sat beside her.
Caleb nearly collapsed with relief.
“I’m taking her.”
Gabriel blocked him.
“After Margaret confesses.”
Margaret laughed.
“You think this is a courtroom?”
Gabriel looked at Caleb.
“No.”
May you like
He lifted a small recorder.
“It’s better.”
