The ‘Lakeview incident’ gnawed at Evelyn, but a more immediate problem loomed. She needed legal counsel. She called the number for a divorce attorney Robert had quietly suggested.
“Of course, Mrs. Cheney,” the receptionist said politely. “We can schedule a consultation. Our retainer is typically five thousand dollars.”
Evelyn went to her bank’s online portal, intending to transfer the funds. She logged in, navigated to her checking account, and saw it immediately. The balance was zero. A notification blinked: “Account frozen due to technical audit. Please contact customer service.”
Panic seized her. This wasn’t a glitch. This was Eleanor.
She called the bank, her voice tight. “My account is frozen. What’s going on?”
The customer service representative, a young woman who sounded vaguely apologetic, gave her only vague answers. “We’ve received an anonymous complaint regarding suspicious activity, Mrs. Cheney. It’s routine. We’re investigating. It could take a few weeks.”
A few weeks. Evelyn knew this wasn’t routine. Eleanor wasn’t just spreading rumors; she was actively crippling Evelyn’s ability to fight back, cutting off her access to funds. Her heart pounded in her chest, a cold dread washing over her.
She tried her savings account. Same message. Her credit cards. Declining. Eleanor had systematically shut down every financial avenue. Evelyn sank into a chair, the phone clutched to her ear, listening to the dial tone.
How could she possibly fight back against the Cheneys when she couldn’t even pay for a lawyer, her escape route suddenly bricked shut?
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