“You ruined this family,” she whispered to me.

“No,” I said. “You did that eight years ago.”

The second agent walked up to Eleanor and pulled her hands behind her back.

The metallic click of the handcuffs echoed through the narrow hallway.

Noah began to cry softly on the stairs.

Lila buried her face in Maren’s sweater.

“Take her outside,” Agent Harris told his colleagues.

They led Eleanor out into the gray afternoon light.

She didn’t look back, keeping her head high even as they guided her into the back of a black SUV.

Agent Harris turned back to me.

“Mr. Whitmore, we have Dr. Mercer in custody in Boston,” he said.

“Is he cooperating?” I asked.

“He signed a full confession ten minutes ago,” Harris replied.

“He confirmed your mother was the sole financier of the fraud.”

Harris took the manila folder from my hand.

“We will need you to come to the field office tomorrow morning to sign your formal statement,” he said.

“I will be there,” I said.

Harris nodded, gave Maren a polite nod, and walked out, closing the door behind him.