Chapter 11 - THE WOMAN WHO PROMOTED ERIC
Eleanor Hale had inherited Archer Development after her father's death.
She was polished.
Generous in public.
Known for funding schools, hospitals, and domestic violence shelters.
Heather had met her at company dinners.
Eleanor remembered Olivia's birthday every year.
That now seemed sinister.
During questioning, Eleanor denied involvement in any criminal activity.
She admitted visiting the green house as a teenager.
"My father had youth programs."
"Did you participate?"
"I volunteered."
"Did you know children were being isolated and monitored?"
"No."
"Did you know Ryan Collins?"
"Yes."
Eric heard that answer from behind observation glass.
His stomach twisted.
Lieutenant Doyle asked, "How?"
"He was part of the program."
"Did you know Melissa Carter?"
"Yes."
"How well?"
"We were teenagers."
"Did you remain in contact?"
"No."
Doyle placed payment records on the table.
"Your company paid her shell business for seven years."
Eleanor barely looked at them.
"Archer has thousands of vendors."
"Six hundred thousand dollars."
"Still possible."
"What services did she provide?"
"I wouldn't know."
Doyle leaned closer.
"Your signature authorized three of the contracts."
Eleanor smiled.
"I sign many things."
Heather watched from beside Eric.
"She's good," Heather whispered.
Eric did not answer.
Doyle changed direction.
"Do you recognize the term CROWN?"
"No."
"Succession?"
"Common word."
"Eric Collins?"
Eleanor's eyes moved toward the mirror.
Just once.
Doyle noticed.
"You promoted him."
"He deserved it."
"Did your father ask you to?"
"No."
"Did Victor Hale know Eric's father?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Thomas handled accounting."
"Did Thomas threaten to expose your father?"
Eleanor's lawyer interrupted.
"We're done."
Eleanor stood.
Then she paused.
"Detective."
"Lieutenant."
"My apologies."
Eleanor smiled.
"Be careful believing Margaret Collins."
Heather's heart stopped.
Doyle's expression did not change.
"Why?"
"She was unstable."
"You said you didn't know anything about this."
"I knew Margaret."
"How?"
Eleanor glanced at the mirror again.
"Everyone did."
Then she left.
Heather turned to Eric.
"She knew your mother."
Eric looked sick.
That night, someone attempted to access the hotel floor using a stolen housekeeping keycard.
Security detained him.
He was a private investigator named Calvin Rhodes.
His phone contained no contacts.
His wallet contained five hundred dollars.
And his pocket contained a photograph of Olivia.
Police arrested him.
Rhodes refused to speak.
Until he learned Melissa was in custody.
Then he laughed.
"You caught the babysitter."
Doyle stared at him.
"What's funny?"
"You think she's important."
"Is she?"
"No."
"Who is?"
Rhodes smiled.
"You already met her."
Doyle placed Eleanor Hale's photograph in front of him.
"Her?"
Rhodes looked at it.
No reaction.
Doyle showed another.
Ryan Collins.
A flicker.
"Ryan?"
Rhodes smiled again.
"Poor Ryan."
"What about him?"
"He finally ran."
"From who?"
"Same person he always runs from."
"Who?"
Rhodes leaned back.
"His brother."
Doyle stared at him.
"Eric?"
"That's the name."
The accusation spread quickly through the investigation.
Rhodes claimed Eric was the true successor.
He claimed CROWN had been preparing him for years.
He claimed Ryan knew.
He claimed Margaret discovered it.
He claimed Melissa was monitoring Eric because CROWN expected him to eventually assume control.
Heather refused to believe him.
Then police found a bank account.
It was in Eric's name.
Opened when he was nineteen.
Balance: $4.8 million.
Eric stared at the statement.
"I've never seen this account."
Doyle asked, "Your Social Security number?"
"Yes."
"Your signature?"
Eric looked closer.
It resembled his.
But at nineteen, his signature had been different.
"I didn't sign this."
Doyle said, "The account received its first deposit from Victor Hale."
Heather sat beside him.
"When?"
Doyle answered.
"The week Eric started college."
Eric's face collapsed.
Victor had paid tuition through scholarships.
Victor had arranged internships.
Victor's company later hired him.
Every success suddenly looked purchased.
Heather took his hand.
"That doesn't mean you're part of it."
Eric whispered, "What if my whole life was built for this?"
"What matters is what you do now."
He looked at her.
Before he could answer, Doyle's phone rang.
She listened.
Her expression changed.
"When?"
She hung up.
"Melissa was attacked."
Heather stood.
"What?"
"In jail."
"Is she alive?"
"Yes."
"Who attacked her?"
Doyle looked at Eric.
"Another detainee."
"Why?"
"She claims someone paid her."
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"Who?"
"The money came through an account connected to Archer Development."
