Two hours later, the penthouse living room was filled with the quiet murmur of legal teams and investigators examining stack after stack of financial records.
Marcus Vance, a distinguished attorney with silver hair and a sharp grey suit, set down a thick Manila folder on the marble coffee table.
Marcus: Julian, Mrs. Sterling, I've just reviewed the affidavits signed by Dr. Arthur Sterling at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Julian: Is the confession legally binding, Marcus?
Marcus: It's more than binding. Dr. Sterling turned over audio recordings of your mother offering him a bribe in exchange for altering the prenatal blood samples.
Sarah: Audio recordings? He recorded her?
Marcus: Yes. Dr. Sterling kept a digital tape recorder in his office desk during every consultation with your mother. He knew she was dangerous, so he protected himself from the beginning.
Julian: What does the District Attorney say about the assault in the parking garage?
Marcus: The DA's office has already issued arrest warrants for the two private security guards involved. They were picked up at a diner in Queens forty minutes ago.
Sarah: Did they implicate Eleanor?
Marcus: They folded the moment the investigators showed them the security footage from the garage. They confirmed in writing that Eleanor Sterling paid them ten thousand dollars each to restrain you and transport you to an unlicensed facility in Westchester.
Julian: That's felony kidnapping and conspiracy.
Marcus: Exactly. Your mother is looking at a minimum of ten to fifteen years in state prison, Julian. There is no judge in New York who will grant her bail given the flight risk and her financial resources.
Sarah: What happens to the company now, Marcus?
Marcus: Per your father's original trust document, because Eleanor engaged in fraudulent activity against the beneficiaries, her voting rights are immediately suspended. You, Julian, have been appointed temporary emergency trustee until your son is born.
Julian: I don't want the title for myself, Marcus. I want everything placed into a locked trust for my wife and child so no one in my extended family can ever touch it again.
Marcus: That can be arranged by end of business today. All you need to do is sign these emergency petition papers.
As Julian leaned over the table to sign the legal documents, the front elevator chimes rang softly, and two uniformed officers from the NYPD stepped into the foyer accompanied by Detective Miller.
Detective Miller: Mr. Sterling? We executed the warrant at your mother's townhouse on East 72nd Street fifteen minutes ago.
Julian: Is she in custody?
Detective Miller: She tried to leave out the service exit with two passports and a carry-on full of bearer bonds, but my officers intercepted her. She's currently being processed at the 19th Precinct.
Sarah: Did she say anything?
Detective Miller: She claimed it was all a misunderstanding, ma'am. But the evidence against her is overwhelming. You won't have to worry about her coming near you ever again.