Chapter 5 - The Sanctuary of Lies
The chapel rectory was an antebellum brick compound surrounded by ten-foot iron fences, originally built to house diocese administrators. By the time Arthur’s convoy arrived, the wrought-iron security gates had been locked from the inside.
Inside the SUV’s darkened cabin, a private physician gently cleaned Blair's abrasions. The little girl clung to Arthur’s thumb with both hands, refusing to let go even as the antiseptic stung her scrapes.
""She’s severely dehydrated, Mr. Sterling,"" Dr. Morris reported quietly. ""Mild pneumonia in the right lung base from exposure. There are older contusions along her ribs. This wasn't a single incident; it’s systematic neglect.""
Arthur stroked Blair’s hair until her exhausted eyelids fluttered shut in drug-assisted sleep. He transferred her carefully into the arms of the pediatric nurse before stepping out into the gravel yard.
Clara stood waiting by the perimeter wall. ""Sheriff Lawson is en route with county units. He’s on their payroll, Mr. Sterling. The chapel isn't just an abusive foster front; it’s a regional laundering hub for offshore trust funds tied to your late brother's estate.""
Arthur’s eyes narrowed. His younger brother, Julian Sterling, had died six months ago under dubious circumstances, leaving behind a contested will. ""Julian funded this place?""
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""He paid five hundred thousand a year to ensure Blair was never discovered, never educated, and never allowed to reach her sixth birthday,"" Clara revealed, handing over a scorched manifest recovered from the shed. ""The trust stipulates that if Catherine's lineage ended before legal probate closed, Julian’s shell companies inherited the primary voting shares of Sterling Maritime.""
Before Arthur could process the depth of his family’s depravity, the rectory’s upper windows lit up with sudden, roaring flames. Timothy had no intention of leaving evidence behind.
