She Fell for the College Janitor Everyone Looked Down On
Chapter 10
At midnight, Samuel entered the chapel carrying a wooden case.
Eleanor waited outside with a trusted professor who had finally agreed to help.
The chapel doors opened.
Mercer stepped inside.
Two armed men followed.
Samuel placed the case on the altar.
“You wanted the ledger.”
Mercer smiled.
“You’ve become troublesome.”
“My father warned me about you.”
“He warned everyone.”
“What happened to him?”
Mercer looked almost amused.
“He was given a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Silence or consequences.”
Samuel’s jaw tightened.
Mercer approached.
“Your father chose badly.”
Eleanor stepped from the shadows.
“No.”
Mercer turned.
She held a copy of the ledger.
“He chose courage.”
Mercer’s smile disappeared.
Samuel opened the wooden case.
It was empty.
“You won’t get the original.”
Mercer drew a pistol.
“Then perhaps you’ll get a grave.”
The trusted professor stepped forward.
“So will you.”
Behind him stood three constables.
Mercer froze.
Eleanor had sent for them earlier.
But the trap wasn’t over.
One of the constables suddenly struck the professor.
The others drew weapons.
Mercer smiled.
“You thought I came alone?”
Samuel grabbed Eleanor.
They ran.
A shot cracked through the chapel.
They escaped through the side door.
Outside, rain poured.
They ran toward the river.
Samuel slipped.
Eleanor caught him.
“Go!”
“No.”
“Eleanor, run!”
“I won’t leave you.”
He stared at her.
Then they heard horses.
Caldwell’s voice shouted behind them.
They reached the old bridge.
The river roared beneath.
There was nowhere left to go.
Caldwell approached.
“Give me the ledger.”
Samuel looked at Eleanor.
Then at the water.
Then he smiled.
Caldwell frowned.
“What?”
Samuel threw the wooden case into the river.
Caldwell rushed forward.
But it was empty.
The real ledger was beneath Eleanor’s cloak.
Caldwell realized too late.
Samuel grabbed Eleanor’s hand.
They jumped.
