Chapter 5 - THE GALLERY RAID
Michael, Detective Brooks, and Willow’s attorney reached the gallery before noon.
Marion stood in the center of the white exhibition room wearing a camel-colored coat.
Workers carried computers, financial files, and storage crates toward the loading dock.
The artwork remained on the walls.
Willow moved past the police officer.
“What are you doing?”
Marion’s expression remained smooth.
“The lease has been terminated.”
“You cannot remove my property.”
“The Sterling family paid for this little experiment.”
“I paid every invoice from the gallery account.”
“An account my son funded.”
Willow’s attorney, Evelyn Carter, stepped forward.
“The gallery is a separate limited-liability company owned entirely by Willow Donovan Sterling.”
“The lease requires thirty days’ written notice and a judicial eviction process.”
Marion looked toward Detective Brooks.
“This is a civil matter.”
Brooks examined the workers.
“Did anyone authorize you to enter?”
One man pointed at Marion.
She had used a master key obtained from the building manager.
The manager admitted Lucas called him at six that morning and claimed Willow had stolen confidential Sterling documents.
Nothing belonging to Sterling Mobility was found.
Instead, Detective Brooks discovered a flash drive in Marion’s handbag.
It contained copies of Willow’s gallery accounts, medical records, and private emails.
Marion claimed Lucas placed it there.
Willow’s attorney requested that the drive be preserved.
Marion’s confidence slipped.
“You have no idea what you are doing to this family.”
Willow looked around the gallery.
Metal sculptures stood beneath white lights.
Paintings by unknown Chicago artists lined the walls.
Richard had called them scrap.
Lucas treated the gallery as a hobby.
Yet over five years, Willow had represented forty-three artists and built a profitable business without Sterling money.
“You confused access with ownership,” she said.
“This gallery is mine.”
“My work is mine.”
“My life is mine.”
Marion stepped closer.
“Lucas could have married Amanda.”
“Amanda gave him dignity.”
“Amanda disappeared.”
The words escaped Willow before she considered them.
Marion’s face changed.
Lucas’s first wife had left Chicago six years earlier.
The Sterlings claimed she moved to Europe after accepting a generous settlement.
No one mentioned her anymore.
“What happened to Amanda?” Willow asked.
Marion turned away.
Detective Brooks noticed the reaction.
That afternoon, Evelyn searched public court records.
Amanda Sterling had never filed for divorce in Illinois.
No marriage dissolution appeared in any state where she had lived.
If Lucas’s first marriage had not legally ended, his marriage to Willow might never have been valid.
Then Helena found an old photograph from a Sterling charity event.
May you like
Amanda stood beside Richard.
A bruise was visible beneath her makeup.
