Chapter 6 - The Folder in Audrey’s Hands
The police placed Julian in handcuffs.
He immediately demanded an attorney.
Eleanor stepped between the officers and her son.
“This is outrageous. He reacted emotionally because his wife was stealing from him.”
Thomas looked at her.
“Audrey paid for this mansion.”
Eleanor lifted her chin.
“My son maintains this household.”
“Using money borrowed under Audrey’s stolen identity.”
For the first time, Eleanor looked at the brown folder.
Thomas handed it to Audrey.
She pressed it against her chest.
Julian’s eyes fixed on the partly visible official seal inside.
“Where did you get that?” he asked.
Thomas stepped toward the stairs.
“Whose name did you forge?”
Julian said nothing.
Eleanor recovered quickly.
“Any financial errors were handled by accountants.”
“Four separate loan applications contain Audrey’s forged signature,” Thomas said. “So does a life insurance policy.”
The officers looked at Julian.
He pulled against the restraints.
“That policy was part of our estate planning.”
Audrey stared at him.
“You insured my life for ten million dollars?”
Julian realized he had confirmed too much.
Eleanor moved toward Audrey.
“Give me the folder.”
Officer Two blocked her.
“Stay where you are.”
Eleanor’s composure fractured.
“Those documents belong to our family.”
Audrey’s voice became calm.
“My name is on them.”
Thomas looked at the officers.
“There is also a recording from inside the house. It includes threats, admissions of financial fraud, and a statement suggesting possible intent to harm my daughter.”
Julian began shouting.
“She recorded private conversations without consent!”
“This is Connecticut,” Thomas replied. “Audrey was a participant in the conversation, and the recording may document a crime.”
Julian turned to Eleanor.
“You said she didn’t have another phone.”
The driveway went silent.
Eleanor’s eyes widened.
She had never told Julian that Audrey did not have another phone.
Not in front of police.
Audrey looked between them.
“You searched my things together.”
Neither answered.
The officers separated Julian from Eleanor.
Audrey was offered an ambulance.
At first, she refused because she was terrified to leave the evidence.
Thomas placed one hand on the folder.
“I have certified copies.”
She looked at him.
“Will they arrest Eleanor too?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because she’ll claim Julian acted alone.”
Eleanor stood near the doorway, already speaking into her phone.
She was not calling a doctor for Audrey.
She was calling someone to make the financial evidence disappear.
Thomas watched her carefully.
“We need to know who she contacts.”
Audrey understood.
The slap had exposed Julian.
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But Eleanor was still dangerous because she remained calm enough to plan.
👉 While Julian was taken away in handcuffs, Eleanor made one phone call that could destroy years of evidence before police reached it.
