CHAPTER 6
The young blonde teller stood frozen behind the counter, shaking.
Marcus approached slowly.
“What’s your name?” he asked coldly.
“B-Brittany,” she stammered. “Brittany Miller, sir. I was just following Mr. Sterling’s instructions.”
Marcus leaned in. “When my mother walked in, did he tell you to roll your eyes at her? Did he tell you to call her a ‘walk-in’ instead of treating her like a human being in grief?”
He addressed the entire silent lobby. “All of you watched her humiliation and said nothing.”
“This bank is done,” he declared. “Auditors are coming. The board will hear exactly why.”
He ordered Brittany to leave her station.
Then he returned to Eleanor, helped her up, and reassured her that replacements for the documents would be delivered quickly.
As they left, the captain informed them the funeral home had already handled everything as a state priority.
Outside, amid flashing lights and growing crowds, Marcus helped his mother into the armored SUV.
Twenty minutes later at the funeral home, Eleanor finally stood before Arthur’s casket in the peaceful chapel.
She rested her hand on the polished wood and whispered, “It’s okay, Arthur. The money was safe. And our boy… our boy took care of everything.”
Later, she turned to Marcus. “Let’s go home, son.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They walked out together into the fading afternoon light.
The system had tried to erase her.
But Eleanor Vance remained standing. And her husband could finally rest in peace.
