Chapter 2 - The Story Eleanor Chose
The ambulance doors had barely closed before Eleanor began calling lawyers.
Sarah lay strapped to a gurney while a paramedic monitored the baby's heartbeat. Arthur sat near her feet, one hand braced against his bruised ribs.
"The baby?" Sarah asked.
"Strong heartbeat," the paramedic said. "But we're watching for placental injury and early labor."
At the hospital, Ethan arrived still wearing the dark suit he had worn to a board lunch downtown.
He saw Sarah first.
Then he saw Arthur's torn sleeve.
"What happened?"
Sarah tried to answer, but Eleanor swept into the room behind him.
"She slipped," Eleanor said quickly. "It was horrible. She chased the ultrasound after I dropped it."
Arthur's jaw tightened.
Ethan looked from his stepmother to Sarah.
"Sarah?"
"She pushed me."
The words landed like broken glass.
Eleanor laughed once, sharply. "She's frightened and medicated."
"I'm not medicated."
"You nearly lost your child. You're confused."
Ethan's face hardened. "Stop talking."
Eleanor actually stopped.
A police officer entered with a tablet. "We need separate statements."
Eleanor lifted her chin. "Of course. And the staff will confirm what happened."
Arthur looked toward the doorway.
Miriam and the two maids stood there.
No one met Sarah's eyes.
Fear moved through her faster than pain.
The officer asked, "Was there a security camera covering the landing?"
Ethan answered immediately. "Yes. Two."
Arthur's expression changed.
"Not anymore."
Ethan turned. "What?"
"They were taken offline yesterday afternoon."
Eleanor's face remained perfectly still.
"By whom?" Ethan asked.
Arthur looked at her.
"The order came from Mrs. Vance's office."
Eleanor smiled faintly. "For maintenance."
The officer typed something.
Then Sarah remembered the ultrasound.
"Arthur. The picture."
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out the two torn halves.
Something else came with them.
A thin strip of cream paper had been stuck to the back of one half.
Ethan unfolded it.
At the top were the words: VANCE HERITAGE TRUST - BENEFICIARY ACTIVATION.
Below that was Sarah's name.
May you like
And beneath it, a line that made Ethan stop breathing.
Effective upon live birth of lawful issue.
