Chapter 27
"She won't have to," a clear, steady voice spoke from the grand entrance behind me.
Julian and I both turned toward the heavy oak front doors. Standing in the open doorway, framed by the pale autumn sunlight, was Eleanor. She was dressed in a dark wool coat, her long brown hair tied neatly behind her neck, her hands tucked inside her pockets. Standing beside her was Arthur Sterling, holding a thick leather briefcase.
Julian’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by a sudden, dangerous stillness. "You brought her here, Sterling? After I filed the custody motion?"
"Mr. Croft's custody motion was dismissed forty-five minutes ago by Judge Miller," Sterling said smoothly, stepping into the foyer and closing the heavy door behind them. "Along with your bail status."
Julian's jaw tightened. "On what grounds?"
"On the grounds that Dr. Rossi—the private physician you hired to supervise Eleanor at this estate—has just signed a full sworn affidavit with the State Attorney's office," Eleanor said, walking slowly across the marble floor until she stood right beside me.
She looked Julian straight in the eyes, her voice completely free of tremor, free of fear, free of the ghost that had kneeled in the dark pantry two nights ago.
"Dr. Rossi provided the court with the original medical logs," Eleanor continued, her dark eyes flashing with cold, brilliant intelligence. "The logs showing that you forced him to administer synthetic hallucinogens and sleep-deprivation agents to me every month for three years. The medical records Croft threatened to use were fabricated by Rossi under your explicit instructions."
Julian's hand tightened around the silver music box so hard his knuckles turned blue. The calm, polished mask he had worn his entire life began to fracture, revealing the raw, frantic panic beneath.
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"Rossi would never risk his license," Julian rasped, his voice losing its smooth melody.
"He didn't risk it," Sterling said, pulling an official federal arrest warrant from his briefcase and holding it out. "He surrendered his license in exchange for federal immunity. Federal marshals are outside on the driveway right now, Julian."
