Chapter 7 - The Arrest
The sirens grew louder, cutting through the crisp evening air. The elite guests inside the lobby pressed against the glass doors, watching the spectacle unfold.
Eleanor backed away from Nora, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She looked around wildly, like a trapped rat looking for a sewer grate to slip into. But there was nowhere to run.
Three black unmarked police cruisers screeched to a halt at the base of the red carpet. Detective Bradley, a no-nonsense veteran of the force, stepped out, followed by four uniformed officers.
"Eleanor Sterling!" Bradley barked, his hand resting on his duty belt.
Eleanor shook her head violently. "No, no, no. This is a misunderstanding! This woman is framing me!"
The officers didn't hesitate. They marched up the steps, grabbed Eleanor by the arms, and spun her around. The sharp, metallic click of handcuffs snapping shut echoed loudly over the murmurs of the crowd.
"Eleanor Sterling, you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation of murder, and criminal embezzlement," Detective Bradley read, his voice booming. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
"You can't do this!" Eleanor shrieked, kicking wildly at the officers, her rented gown tearing at the seam. She locked eyes with Nora, her face a mask of pure, unadulterated hatred. "I'll kill you! I will end you, Nora!"
Nora stood perfectly still, watching the woman who had tormented her for a decade completely lose her mind.
"I think you just proved the detective's point, Eleanor," Nora said quietly.
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The paparazzi, who had been holding their breath, suddenly erupted. Flashes blinded the night sky as they captured the spectacular downfall of the Sterling heiress. Eleanor was shoved into the back of a police cruiser, her face pressed against the glass, screaming obscenities as the car sped away into the night.
Nora turned her back to the flashing lights, linked her arm with the chief of medicine, and walked gracefully into the ballroom. The doors closed behind her, shutting out the noise of the past forever.
