Chapter 17: Isabella's Bargain
Chapter 17: Isabella's Bargain
Charles Whitmore's arrest dominated every national news broadcast by sunrise.
Reporters gathered outside Carter Memorial Medical Center and the county courthouse, broadcasting live as details of the investigation slowly emerged.
Yet one fact remained hidden from the public.
Grace's identity.
At William Carter's request, the court sealed every document related to the DNA report.
Only a handful of people knew the truth.
Inside the county detention center, Isabella Rossi sat alone in a small interview room.
Gone was the flawless makeup, the designer gowns, and the air of superiority that had once followed her into every gala.
She looked exhausted.
The heavy steel door opened.
Detective Laura Bennett entered with Assistant District Attorney Rachel Morgan.
Bennett sat across from Isabella.
"You asked to speak with us."
Isabella nodded.
"I want a deal."
Rachel Morgan remained calm.
"That depends on what you have to offer."
Isabella looked directly at Bennett.
"I can prove Charles didn't act alone."
Across town, Marcus and Khloe had finally returned to the Thorne estate.
For the first time in weeks, they were allowed to leave the hospital under medical supervision.
Security had been doubled around the property.
Marcus helped Khloe settle onto the living room sofa.
"Home."
Khloe smiled softly.
"I've missed this place."
She looked around at the familiar photographs, the fireplace, and the large windows overlooking the gardens.
Then she gently rested a hand on her stomach.
"So has someone else."
The baby kicked.
Marcus laughed.
"I think our little one agrees."
For the first time since the attack, hope felt real.
Back at the detention center, Isabella folded her hands tightly.
"I knew Charles was planning something long before the gala."
Bennett turned on the recorder.
"Start from the beginning."
Isabella took a deep breath.
"He approached me six months ago."
"What did he want?"
"He knew I loved Marcus."
She looked down.
"He told me Marcus only stayed with Khloe because of family expectations."
Rachel frowned.
"And you believed him?"
"I wanted to."
Her voice cracked.
"He kept telling me Khloe would eventually step aside."
Bennett asked quietly,
"Did he ever tell you to attack her?"
Isabella closed her eyes.
"No."
"He never gave a direct order."
"He just kept feeding my anger."
"He made me believe I was fighting for my future."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I didn't realize I was fighting for his."
Rachel leaned forward.
"That's not enough for a plea agreement."
"I know."
Isabella reached into the envelope lying on the table.
"I brought this."
She slid several printed emails across the table.
Bennett quickly scanned them.
Every message came from anonymous encrypted accounts.
Yet each contained precise instructions.
When Marcus would attend certain events.
Where Khloe would be.
Which security guards would be on duty.
Rachel looked up.
"Who sent these?"
"I thought it was Charles."
Bennett frowned.
"It wasn't?"
Isabella slowly shook her head.
"The messages were always signed with one initial."
"What initial?"
"'V.'"
Meanwhile, William Carter met privately with Grace at the farmhouse.
The police had declared the property secure, but Grace still looked overwhelmed.
William poured two cups of tea.
"I know this is a lot."
Grace smiled sadly.
"My whole life changed overnight."
"I know."
She looked at him.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
William answered honestly.
"Because it wasn't my secret to tell."
Grace nodded.
"Vivian always said the truth arrives when people are ready."
A silence settled between them.
Finally, Grace asked,
"Did my father know about me?"
William's eyes filled with sorrow.
"No."
"He died before your mother learned she was pregnant."
Grace lowered her head.
"So I never had the chance to know him."
William reached across the table and gently took her hand.
"No."
"But you have family now."
At Police Headquarters, Daniel Reyes rushed into Detective Bennett's office.
"We traced the emails."
Bennett looked up.
"Already?"
"They bounced through dozens of foreign servers."
She sighed.
"But..."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"One mistake."
"What?"
"The sender logged in once from inside Carter Memorial."
Bennett stood immediately.
"Where?"
Daniel handed her a printed report.
"The Executive Administration Wing."
Rachel Morgan looked at the document.
"Who had access?"
Daniel answered quietly.
"Only six employees."
Bennett scanned the names.
William Carter.
Charles Whitmore.
Daniel Reyes.
Vivian Hale.
Michael Donovan.
And...
Her eyes stopped.
"Linda Foster."
Rachel frowned.
"The Director of Executive Services?"
Daniel nodded.
"She's been with the hospital for eighteen years."
That afternoon, officers quietly searched Linda Foster's office.
Everything appeared ordinary.
Family photographs.
Awards.
Perfectly organized files.
Then one detective noticed something unusual.
A false bottom inside the bottom drawer of her filing cabinet.
Hidden beneath it was a prepaid cellphone.
Still charged.
Still active.
Bennett powered it on.
One message immediately appeared on the screen.
Charles arrested. Destroy everything.
The message had been sent...
Three hours earlier.
"Where's Linda?" Bennett asked.
Daniel checked the employee tracking system.
His expression changed.
"She never came to work today."
"When did anyone last see her?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
Rachel folded her arms.
"She's running."
Bennett shook her head.
"Not if we find her first."
Late that evening, Marcus and Khloe were enjoying a quiet dinner when the doorbell rang.
Marcus opened the front door.
William stood there.
His expression was unusually serious.
"What happened?" Marcus asked.
William stepped inside.
"The investigation just uncovered another accomplice."
Khloe looked up from the dining table.
"Who?"
William slowly answered.
"Linda Foster."
Marcus frowned.
"I barely know her."
William nodded.
"Most people don't."
"She was excellent at staying invisible."
Khloe suddenly remembered something.
"The woman..."
Marcus looked at her.
"What woman?"
"The elegant woman I saw outside the nursery."
"The day before Charles was arrested."
Marcus's expression changed.
"You never told me."
"I thought she was just another visitor."
William's face slowly lost all color.
"Can you describe her?"
Khloe did.
Dark hair.
Pearl earrings.
Gray coat.
Calm smile.
William closed his eyes.
"That's Linda."
Marcus immediately understood.
"She wasn't visiting the nursery."
William nodded grimly.
"No."
He looked toward Khloe.
"She was confirming that you—and the baby—were still alive."
Silence filled the room.
Linda Foster hadn't been hiding behind a desk.
She had been watching them in person all along.
And at that very moment, miles away, Linda sat alone in a hotel room.
She quietly packed a small suitcase.
Then she picked up a burner phone and dialed a number from memory.
The call connected after one ring.
"I need extraction," she said calmly.
A distorted voice replied,
"Impossible."
"Why?"
"Because you're no longer our biggest problem."
Linda frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The voice answered with chilling certainty.
"Vivian Hale escaped."
Linda's eyes widened.
May you like
If Vivian was free...
Then the final secret Charles had never uncovered might soon be revealed to everyone.
