Chapter 13 - THE SECRET ELEANOR CARRIEDNicholas couldn't speak.
Amelia stared at Eleanor.
Victoria looked equally stunned.
“You helped him?”
Eleanor sat down.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was young.”
“That isn't enough.”
“I believed I could control him.”
Nicholas laughed bitterly.
“You joined him.”
“I infiltrated him.”
“You lied to me.”
“I lied to everyone.”
“Did you help hurt people?”
Eleanor looked down.
“Yes.”
The confession broke something between them.
Nicholas walked outside.
He stood beneath the American flag.
For the first time, he wondered whether his entire family was contaminated.
Maybe there were no innocent people.
Maybe everyone had simply chosen a different side.
Eleanor followed.
“I know what you're thinking.”
“You don't.”
“I think you're wondering whether you can trust me.”
Nicholas turned.
“Can I?”
She didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Then Eleanor handed him a file.
Inside was her original confession.
She had written it twenty-eight years ago.
But never submitted it.
At the bottom was a list.
Names of victims.
People she had secretly protected.
People she had helped escape.
People she had saved.
Nicholas looked at her.
“You were both.”
“Yes.”
“A criminal and a protector.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted you to have one childhood without knowing what your family had done.”
Nicholas's anger softened.
But only slightly.
Then his phone rang.
The caller was the prosecutor.
“We found Thomas.”
“Where?”
“Inside the Hale Foundation headquarters.”
Nicholas froze.
“What?”
“He surrendered.”
“Why?”
The prosecutor's voice became quiet.
“He says he has proof that Richard is alive.”
Nicholas looked toward Eleanor.
May you like
The past had found another door.
And this time, it was standing wide open.
