Chapter 1856:
Stella’s connection to the case gave her leverage—Lance’s position in law enforcement helped, and the police knew she was directly involved in bringing Arlo down. As a result, when Stella submitted her request to visit Arlo, approval came through quickly.
After passing through identity checks and metal detectors, a guard escorted Stella to a private visitation room. The room was separate from the main visiting area, with thick bulletproof glass dividing the space—a precaution in case Arlo tried something. He was considered high-risk, after all.
Stella lowered herself into the metal chair and waited, her fingers worrying at the hem of her shirt without her realizing it.
She had no idea if Arlo would tell her anything useful, but this was the only path she had to the truth.
Several minutes passed before the door on the other side of the glass opened and two guards walked Arlo inside.
Even dressed in standard-issue prison orange, Arlo carried himself with the same unsettling calm. He walked with steady, measured steps, and when his eyes landed on Stella, a faint smile ghosted across his lips—like he had been expecting her all along.
The guards locked him into the chair with restraints and moved to stand against the back wall.
His hands and ankles were bound, but he still managed to look down at her from across the glass with an air of superiority.
“Ms. Russell. I expected you days ago, but better late than never.”
His voice crackled through the speaker between them, and he watched her the way a cat watches a wounded bird. “I assumed William would be my first visitor, actually.”
The words made Stella’s breath hitch in her throat, but she forced herself to remain outwardly calm and held his dangerous stare.
𝘍іn𝖽 n𝗈𝘃𝗲𝘭 𝖯𝖣𝗙s 𝗈𝗇 g𝘢𝗅nоve𝗅s.𝗰𝗼𝗆
“What did you do to William?”
Both guards straightened, their attention sharpening on the prisoner. Arlo’s list of charges was already extensive—were there more crimes they hadn’t uncovered yet?
Arlo lifted one eyebrow mockingly. “What did I do to him? Don’t you already know the answer? You raided my compound yourself and gathered all that evidence. Are you telling me you missed something?”
Arlo was playing games, deliberately misunderstanding, trying to get under her skin.
Stella drew in a slow breath and dropped her voice. “You poisoned him. Didn’t you?”
Genuine surprise flashed across Arlo’s face before morphing into something crueler—amusement. “I was certain he’d keep that to himself. Did he actually tell you?”
Then he caught the look on her face and understanding dawned. “Ah. He didn’t tell you at all, did he?”
He’d known William would try to hide it from her.
Arlo’s lack of denial hit Stella like a physical blow, her heart plummeting. Everything Anika had told her was true.
Stella’s voice shook with barely controlled fury, her hands balled into tight fists beneath the table.
“Why? You already manipulated his memories—wasn’t that enough? Why poison him on top of that? What if he dies before he’s any use to you?”
Arlo let out a sudden laugh at her words—harsh, cold, and utterly devoid of any real humor.
.
.
.