Chapter 10 - The Loan Sharks at the Door
Before Eleanor could spew another drop of bile, the sound of a heavy, rumbling engine interrupted her. A black, unmarked SUV with tinted windows rolled quietly past the open front gates and stopped ten feet behind Eleanor’s abandoned suitcase.
Three men in dark leather jackets stepped out. None of them looked like lawyers or law enforcement. Their faces were weathered, scars lining the knuckles of the lead man, who carried a heavy manila folder under his arm.
Eleanor turned around, and every drop of blood drained from her face. She took an involuntary step backward, trembling with genuine, terrifying horror.
"M-Mr. Varga..." Eleanor stammered, her voice shrinking to a squeak. "What... what are you doing here?"
The lead man, Varga, ignored Eleanor entirely. He looked up at Ellis, then at me. His gaze was calculating, professional, and deadly quiet.
"Good afternoon," Varga said, his voice deep and raspy. "I'm looking for Bridget Sterling. Her mother told us she would be here."
"I never told you that!" Eleanor shrieked. "I told you she was with Kyle!"
"Kyle's family cut him off this morning, Mrs. Sterling," Varga replied, flicking open the manila folder. "And your precious daughter owes my associates three hundred and fifty thousand dollars from illegal offshore sports betting and luxury credit lines she secured using this farm as collateral."
My heart pounded against my ribs. "Using *this* farm? Bridget never owned a blade of grass here."
"She brought us a signed deed of trust," Varga said, holding up a notarized document. "Signed by Richard Sterling and Eleanor Sterling, claiming they were the sole executors of Donald Sterling’s estate."
Grandma Ruth chuckled—a dry, humorless sound. "Then you were swindled by amateur con artists, Mr. Varga. Richard never owned Willow Creek. I do. And now, my granddaughter Esther holds the title in fee simple."
Varga looked from Grandma Ruth to the deed in his hands, then turned his icy glare onto Eleanor. "Is that true, Eleanor? You forged your late father-in-law's estate documents to secure an illegal bridge loan?"
"Richard told me it was fine!" Eleanor shrieked, backing toward the porch steps. "He promised we would pay it back when we took Esther's wedding gifts and forced her to sign over her trust!"
"Then you have a serious problem," Varga said quietly, closing the folder. He looked back at Ellis. "We have no dispute with you, Mr. Sterling. But this woman and her daughter owe us everything they have."
Ellis stepped forward, his posture authoritative and unwavering. "Then take your business off this private property, Mr. Varga. If Eleanor is on this land in three minutes, she’ll be answering to Sheriff Vance. And so will you."
Varga looked Ellis up and down, recognizing a man who would not be intimidated. He gave a single, tight nod. "Understood." He turned to Eleanor, his eyes narrowing into cold slits. "Get in the SUV, Eleanor. We are going to have a very long conversation about where Richard went with our money."
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Eleanor screamed, scrambling toward the porch, begging me to save her. But Ellis blocked her path with an outstretched arm, firm as an iron bar.
Within moments, Eleanor was forced into the backseat of the black SUV, and the vehicle roared out of the driveway, leaving only a cloud of dust hanging in the autumn air.
