Chapter 6 - Taking Out the Trash
Sterling walked calmly to the edge of the table, picked up the $1.15 plastic clearance bracelet, and laid it directly on top of the Jeep keys.
"You keep both of these, Eleanor," Sterling said quietly, his gaze steady, devoid of malice, carrying only complete and unshakeable dismissal. "You told sixty people tonight that some branches of the family have to settle for whatever is left over. You were right about one thing—someone is leaving here with scraps tonight. But it isn't Sage."
Guests were now filing out of the private dining room in droves. What was supposed to be Eleanor’s crowning moment of public vanity had transformed into a humiliating legal execution. People left cash on their tables for their drinks, avoiding eye contact with Eleanor and Candace, eager to escape before the squad cars outside started flashing their sirens.
David Ross turned to me, offering a respectful nod. "Rowan, the compliance committee will review the final recovery papers tomorrow at nine. The thirty-eight thousand dollars will be restored to Sage’s custodial account directly from Mrs. Vance’s frozen private CD accounts at the main branch."
"Thank you, David," I said. "I will be in the office at eight."
"Mom..." Brin’s voice was broken, raw, as she stood near the exit, her makeup running in dark streaks down her face. "I can't go to the university in that Arctic White Jeep. Everyone from high school was waiting outside to take pictures of it."
"We will figure something out, Brinley," Candace hissed, grabbing her daughter’s arm, though her own eyes were filled with panicked tears. She looked at me, a flicker of shame finally breaking through her entitled mask. "Rowan... please. Can't you drop the internal report? Mother is seventy-one years old. She can't go to jail."
"Mother made her choice when she forged my daughter's signature on a legal waiver, Candace," I replied evenly. "Actions have consequences. You taught Brin that appearances matter more than character. Now you can teach her how to take the city bus."
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Candace choked back a sob, turned on her designer heels, and dragged Brin out the double doors, leaving Eleanor sitting alone at the head of an empty, ruined banquet table.
Detective Miller handed Eleanor the official summons. "Be at the county courthouse on Monday at nine sharp with your attorney, Mrs. Vance. Do not attempt to leave the state."
