Chapter 6 - THE POLICE AT THE DOOR
Four officers entered the mansion.
The first looked at Aleric.
“Mr. Sterling, you're being investigated for fraud and unlawful transfer of assets.”
Aleric laughed in disbelief.
“What assets?”
The officer held up a warrant.
“The Sterling Trust.”
My heart sank.
Graham had prepared this.
He had planted evidence.
He had created a story that made Aleric look guilty.
I stepped forward.
“Officer, before you arrest anyone, look at this.”
I held up the USB drive.
The officer's expression changed.
“What is that?”
“Evidence.”
Graham suddenly moved toward the door.
Two officers stopped him.
“Mr. Graham Sterling, you're under arrest.”
He stared at me.
“You think you've won?”
“No.”
I looked at Aleric.
“I think we're finally starting.”
The drive contained hours of recordings.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
Hospital transfers.
Adoption records.
And one recording that made everyone silent.
Graham's voice.
“We don't need to kill the children.”
A second voice answered.
“What about the parents?”
Graham replied:
“They're liabilities.”
Rowan began sobbing.
Aleric closed his eyes.
Then another recording played.
Eleanor's voice.
“I'll take care of the Sterling baby.”
Graham answered:
“And the other one?”
“Erase him.”
Aleric stared at his mother.
“Mom…”
Eleanor covered her face.
“I was afraid.”
“You let them erase my brother.”
“I thought I was saving you.”
“No.”
Aleric's voice cracked.
“You were saving the family name.”
The police searched the mansion.
They found financial records.
Hidden passports.
Forged medical files.
And a locked safe.
Inside was a photograph of a young man.
On the back was written:
CASSIAN STERLING — CURRENT LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
I stared at the photograph.
He looked like Aleric.
Same eyes.
Same jaw.
Same expression.
Then my phone rang.
May you like
A man's voice whispered:
“Tell my brother I'm alive.”
