Chapter 8 - Eleanor’s Version
Eleanor Whitmore held a press conference the following morning.
She stood outside the family estate wearing a dark blue suit.
Victor Hale remained beside her.
Dozens of reporters crowded the gates.
Eleanor claimed Claire was a disturbed former employee who had returned to extort the Whitmore family.
She said Claire’s fall had been an unfortunate accident.
She said Ethan was being manipulated during a period of emotional stress.
Then she produced documents showing Claire had received fifty thousand dollars from a Whitmore account ten years earlier.
Claire watched the broadcast from Daniel’s safe house.
“I never received that money.”
Ethan examined the transfer record.
“The account is in your name.”
“It isn’t mine.”
Daniel traced the bank details.
The account had been opened using Claire’s identification two days after Thomas disappeared.
Funds were deposited.
Then they were withdrawn in cash.
Eleanor’s story spread quickly.
News channels displayed old photographs of Claire.
Commentators questioned why she had remained silent for ten years.
Whitmore Maritime’s board issued a statement supporting Eleanor.
Victor called Ethan privately.
“Come home,” he said.
“You are embarrassing the company.”
“My father is alive.”
Victor was silent for half a second.
Then he laughed.
“You have always been vulnerable where Claire Bennett is concerned.”
“You framed her.”
“You are chasing ghosts.”
“I heard your voice on the tape.”
“Recordings can be altered.”
Ethan looked at Daniel.
Daniel was tracing the call.
“Where is Saint Augustine’s Sanitarium?” Ethan asked.
Victor ended the call immediately.
Daniel shook his head.
“The call bounced through three towers.”
Claire walked toward the window.
“Eleanor is preparing everyone to believe we are criminals.”
“She did the same thing ten years ago.”
“She doesn’t need to kill us if she can destroy our credibility.”
Ethan joined her.
“She won’t stop at credibility.”
He remembered the syringe in her hospital room.
“She intends to finish what she started.”
A knock sounded at the safe house door.
Daniel checked the camera.
Ava Morales stood outside.
Her cheek was bruised.
She carried a laptop beneath her coat.
They let her inside.
“Mrs. Whitmore sent men to my apartment,” Ava said.
“They offered me money to change my statement.”
“When I refused, they took my phone.”
“What’s on the laptop?” Ethan asked.
Ava placed it on the table.
“The ballroom cameras.”
“Lucas ordered the hotel to erase the footage.”
“But the system keeps a backup for twenty-four hours.”
She opened a video file.
The image clearly showed Eleanor grabbing Claire.
It clearly showed the push.
Then the footage continued.
As Ethan rushed toward the staircase, Victor Hale moved beside Eleanor.
He leaned close to her ear.
The camera had no audio.
But the words could be read from his lips.
She still has the key.
Daniel replayed the moment.
Claire felt the room grow colder.
Ava opened another file.
The footage came from a service corridor thirty minutes before the gala.
Lucas Grant entered carrying a medical bag.
Victor followed him.
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Then a third person appeared.
Dr. Helen Voss.
