The Heritage Paper

Chapter 39



As they pulled up in front of the glimmering skyscraper on Park Avenue, Zach felt an old familiar rush. He’d been lost at sea, wallowing in self-pity, but now felt as if he were rowing ashore once again.

He thought back to when he interviewed Aligor Sterling in the same building on the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Holocaust. Little did he know that there might be a modern-day story of danger and intrigue inside those walls.

As he’d told Maggie, Zach had his doubts that this was a big story, at least in the way Ellen and Youkelstein thought it was. But nevertheless, Sterling was still a huge player in this election—many believed him to be Kingston’s “voice”—and there was no denying he was his biggest financial supporter. At the very least, his conduct was suspicious.

Veronica had been a rock all day, but Zach noticed that her emotions were starting to fray. And when she spotted Sterling’s limo pulling up to the sidewalk, she looked like she was going to erupt. She got out of the vehicle and headed right for him, machine-gun-wielding security be damned.

Sterling looked surprised by the crazed woman rapidly walking toward them, as he was being helped from the limo. But when he realized it was Veronica, he told his men to stand down, and offered a friendly greeting. He took Veronica’s hand and said, “Twice in one day—what do I owe such an honor?”

“We have a few questions concerning Ellen Peterson,” Zach said, right behind her.

He looked at his watch. “Very well, we can meet in my office. I’m just returning from a security meeting for tomorrow’s victory.”

He smiled pleasantly like he was running for office himself, but his smile suddenly sank into the sea.

He saw Youkelstein.

“I must be dead,” Sterling snipped, “because I know Ben Youkelstein only chases ghosts.”

Youkelstein looked ready for a fight. “I find it much more honorable to chase ghosts than to whore myself to television cameras and the publicity machine.”

For a moment, it looked like the former friends were going to have a physical altercation. Yoda on Yoda violence. But Sterling was savvy enough to know that Theodore Baer’s people would love to get a shot of him coming unglued on Election Eve. So he backed down.

Youkelstein retook his vow to never again step foot in Sterling House. He limped away, rhythmically pounding his umbrella cane into the cement sidewalk.

Sterling ignored the tantrum as he ushered his guests toward the entrance. But Zach realized Veronica was stuck in a quandary. She wanted to shield Maggie and Jamie from any discussions involving their father’s death, but also needed to keep them close.

Sterling offered his security detail to watch them. But with her trust level of Sterling at zero, that wasn’t happening. Maggie initially fought for inclusion, the first words she’d spoken since leaving Bedford Hills, but she was no match for her protective mother. Seeing that it wasn’t going her way, Maggie offered up a potential solution—to catch up with Youkelstein and stay with him. She probably saw an opportunity to pick his brain.

Veronica didn’t trust anybody at this point, but she seemed resigned to the fact that this was the best possible solution.

Sterling took money out of the pocket of his suit-jacket and handed it to the children. “There is a great ice cream shop down the street, why don’t you take Ben and get something you like.”

The mention of ice cream sealed the deal, and the kids were racing toward Youkelstein before the adults could change their minds.

Veronica’s face reeked of apprehension as she watched her children run away from her.