The holding cell at the precinct was cold, smelling of cheap floor cleaner and old iron. Eleanor sat on a hard metal bench, her designer dress ruined, her makeup smeared down her face. Julian sat in the corner, staring blankly at the concrete floor, clutching his bruised chest where Evelyn’s kick had landed.
Julian: Mom, my chest hurts... I think she cracked my rib.
Eleanor: Be quiet, Julian! Crying won't help us!
Julian: The lawyer said no one is answering our calls! None of our friends are picking up!
Eleanor: Because they're cowards! All of them! The moment things get tough, they run!
Guard: Eleanor Sterling. You have a visitor.
Eleanor stood up quickly, smoothing down her wrinkled off-white dress with shaking hands.
Eleanor: See? I told you! It's the senator. He’s coming to post our bail!
The heavy iron door opened, and Eleanor was led down a dimly lit hallway into a small visitor room split by thick glass. Sitting on the other side of the partition, dressed in a sharp tailor-made navy suit, was Evelyn.
Eleanor: You... how dare you show your face here!
Evelyn: Take a seat, Eleanor. You look tired.
Eleanor: Pick up the phone handset, Evelyn! Pick it up!
Evelyn slowly lifted the plastic receiver to her ear, watching Eleanor grab hers on the other side of the glass.
Eleanor: You think you've won? This is a temporary setback! My lawyers will unravel your fake federal charges in a week!
Evelyn: You still don't get it, do you? Your lawyers dropped you two hours ago when their retainer checks bounced.
Eleanor: What? That's illegal!
Evelyn: It's standard business practice when a client's funds are frozen due to criminal activity.
Eleanor: You did this! You froze my accounts!
Evelyn: The Department of Justice froze your accounts, Eleanor. I just gave them the thumb drive with the evidence.
Eleanor: Evelyn... please. We're family.
Evelyn: Family? Is that what you called it when you forged my father's signature on his deathbed?
Eleanor: Your father was sick! He didn't know what he was doing! I took care of him!
Evelyn: You poisoned his mind against me, kicked me out of my own home, and left me with nothing while he died alone in that hospital.
Eleanor: I was trying to secure Julian's future!
Evelyn: By stealing mine.
Eleanor’s voice cracked, tears finally brimming in her eyes as the crushing weight of her reality set in. There was no rescue coming. No wealthy political allies, no high-priced lawyers, no offshore safety net.
Eleanor: What do you want from me, Evelyn? Tell me what you want!
Evelyn: Remember what I told you last night after you slapped me?
Eleanor choked on a sob, pressing her forehead against the cool glass partition.
Eleanor: Please... please, Evelyn. Forgive us. Don't ruin Julian's life. He's young, he didn't know anything!
Evelyn: Julian knew enough to help you hide millions in offshore accounts.
Eleanor: I'm begging you! I'll sign whatever papers you want! I'll give up all claims to the Sterling name, the business, everything! Just pull the charges!
Evelyn: Yesterday you slapped me in front of two hundred people and called me a nobody.
Eleanor: I was wrong! I was arrogant! Please... I'm begging on my knees!
Eleanor slid off the metal chair, falling to her knees on the cold concrete floor of the visitor booth, her face pressed against the lower edge of the glass panel.
Eleanor: Please, Evelyn... have mercy!
Evelyn looked down at her stepmother, her eyes showing no anger, only a vast, empty silence.
Evelyn: You had three years to show mercy to my father. You showed none. Justice is finally being served.