Chapter 19 - THE RESCUE
The location came at dawn.
A simple text.
COME ALONE. BRIDGE 17.
Marcus immediately objected.
“You’re not going.”
“I am.”
“Eleanor—”
“They have Beatrice.”
Marcus stared at her.
“They could have you too.”
“I know.”
She looked at the photograph of Chloe on her desk.
“I've spent my whole life letting powerful people decide what happens next.”
She turned.
“Not anymore.”
Marcus finally nodded.
“But I'm coming.”
They arrived at Bridge 17 at 6:40 a.m.
Fog covered the river.
A warehouse stood on the opposite side.
Eleanor stepped out of the car.
A loudspeaker crackled.
“Walk inside.”
Marcus whispered,
“Police are two minutes away.”
Eleanor entered.
Beatrice was tied to a chair.
Her face was bruised, but she was conscious.
“Eleanor!”
Eleanor ran toward her.
A man stepped from the shadows.
Daniel Crowe.
Eleanor froze.
It was impossible.
Daniel was supposed to be in federal custody.
The man smiled.
“Not Daniel.”
He stepped closer.
“My name is Adrian Crowe.”
Marcus immediately drew his weapon.
Adrian laughed.
“Daniel was my brother.”
Eleanor stared.
“The network…”
“My family built it.”
Adrian looked at the USB drive.
“And your father nearly destroyed it.”
Eleanor helped Beatrice stand.
“What do you want?”
“The patents.”
“No.”
“You don't understand their value.”
“I understand exactly.”
Adrian smiled.
“Then you understand why your father hid them.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“My father hid them because he knew people like you would exploit them.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“You think you're different?”
“No.”
Eleanor stepped forward.
“I know I'm different.”
She pulled out her phone.
Adrian frowned.
“You're being recorded.”
He laughed.
“That won't save you.”
“No.”
Eleanor smiled.
“But this will.”
She held up the USB drive.
“You wanted the patents.”
“Yes.”
“I copied them.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“And sent them to every major children's hospital in the country.”
Silence.
Marcus smiled.
Adrian's face collapsed.
“You wouldn't.”
“I already did.”
The warehouse doors suddenly burst open.
Federal agents stormed inside.
Adrian turned to run.
He didn't make it ten feet.
Officers tackled him to the ground.
Beatrice collapsed into Eleanor's arms.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Eleanor held her.
“It's over.”
But Marcus walked toward them holding a folder.
“Not yet.”
He opened it.
Inside was a list of names.
Doctors.
Executives.
Investors.
Politicians.
People connected to Northstar.
Eleanor stared.
“How many?”
“Twenty-seven.”
Beatrice looked terrified.
“Then this isn't over.”
Eleanor took the folder.
“No.”
She looked toward the officers arresting Adrian.
“But now we know where to look.”
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And for the first time, the people who had spent decades hiding behind money and influence realized something terrifying.
Eleanor Sterling was no longer afraid of them.
