CHAPTER 8 — The Maid on the News
By evening, Victor had transformed himself from fugitive into victim.
Every major news station played edited security footage showing Elena pushing Emily down the stairs.
The chandelier crash had been removed.
So had the wire cutters.
Victor released a recorded statement claiming his wife had been manipulated by a dangerous woman posing as a maid.
He accused Elena of kidnapping Margaret and attacking Thomas.
A warrant appeared for Elena’s arrest.
“How does a wanted man control the news?” Emily demanded.
Detective Bennett’s expression was grim.
“He owns people.”
Two police officers arrived at the facility with orders to arrest Elena.
Bennett examined the document.
The judge’s signature was genuine.
The evidence supporting it was not.
Still, she had no legal authority to ignore the warrant.
Elena held out her hands.
Emily stepped between her and the officers.
“She saved my life.”
“One edited video says otherwise,” Elena replied. “Let them take me.”
“No.”
“If I run, Victor wins.”
Elena was taken to the county detention center.
Within an hour, another inmate attacked her in the corridor.
Elena fought back and survived, but the message was clear.
Victor could reach her anywhere.
Emily called a live press conference.
She stood before the cameras wearing a dark maternity dress. The bruise on her forehead remained visible.
“Elena Whitmore did not attack me,” she said. “She saved me from my husband.”
Emily displayed the unedited security footage.
It showed the chandelier crashing exactly where she had stood.
Then she showed the wire cutters.
Reporters erupted with questions.
Victor’s story began falling apart.
But the forensic report arrived during the press conference.
Elena’s fingerprints were on the wire cutters.
Victor’s were not.
Emily stared at the report.
“That’s impossible.”
From detention, Elena requested a private meeting.
When Emily arrived, Elena looked exhausted but calm.
“I touched those cutters three weeks ago,” she said.
“Why?”
“Victor left them in the greenhouse. I saw pieces of metal wire caught in the blades. I thought he was repairing something.”
“You should have told someone.”
“I didn’t know what they meant.”
Emily pressed a hand against the glass separating them.
“Tell me the truth. All of it.”
Elena looked down.
“I didn’t simply work for Victor’s company.”
“What does that mean?”
“I helped build the financial system he used to hide the money.”
Emily pulled her hand away.
“You helped him?”
“I didn’t know what it was at first.”
“How long?”
“Four years.”
Emily stared at the woman she had just publicly defended.
Then Elena spoke the words Emily feared most.
“There’s something else. Victor didn’t marry you by chance.”
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“What did you do?”
“I gave him your name.”
