Chapter 6 - Infiltration
The Sterling estate was an imposing Gothic mansion perched on the rocky cliffs of Newport, Rhode Island, overlooking the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Iron gates topped with security cameras blocked the main entrance, but Dr. Reed had provided us with the access code for the service entrance used by catering and staff.
My dad parked our truck half a mile away down a dark coastal lane. I had Nora strapped securely to my chest in a soft carrier, covered by my thick winter coat. Marcus and my dad walked beside me, carrying heavy flashlights and tools.
"Are you sure about this, Clara?" my dad asked, looking at the looming estate through the heavy fog.
"Caleb sold our baby for cash," I replied through gritted teeth. "I’m going to make sure he pays every single cent back in blood."
Using the code, we slipped through the side gate and moved quietly across the manicured lawns. The mansion was brightly lit, and through the tall glass French doors of the main drawing room, I saw them.
Victoria Sterling was standing by a marble fireplace, holding a glass of scotch. Sitting across from her on a velvet sofa was Caleb, his face buried in his hands, while Margaret stood beside him, clutching a glass of wine with trembling hands.
"You ruined everything, Caleb!" Victoria’s voice echoed faintly through the glass. "You were supposed to bring the baby quietly to the private clinic in Boston! Instead, you created a public scene at the hospital and drove her right into hiding!"
"I panicked!" Caleb's voice rose in hysterical defense. "I saw the birthmark and realized what I’d done! I wanted the money, Victoria, but I didn't think Clara would fight back like this!"
"She has no choice," Margaret added, her voice bitter and cold. "She’s a poor schoolteacher! She can't afford a real lawyer! Just give us the rest of the money, Victoria, and we’ll help your men find where her parents took her!"
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Hearing Margaret’s betraying words made my blood boil. The woman who had held my hand during labor, who had cried tears of joy when Nora took her first breath, was actively selling out her own granddaughter for a paycheck.
I didn't wait for my dad to stop me. I stepped up to the French doors, raised a heavy steel wrench my dad carried, and shattered the glass lock with one violent swing.
