Chapter 7 - The Room Behind the Library
Claire went home.
Of course she did.
Grant had spent years underestimating that particular part of her personality.
Telling Claire not to do something almost guaranteed she would examine why.
Daniel tried to stop her.
"Grant specifically warned you."
"Grant also cheated on me for eighteen months and stole forty-eight million dollars. His judgment is not currently persuasive."
"Claire."
"Come with me."
That ended the argument.
They reached the penthouse at 2:03.
The private elevator opened directly into the foyer.
Nothing appeared disturbed.
"Grant?"
No answer.
Claire walked toward the library.
A lamp was on.
One shelf stood open.
Daniel stopped.
"Was that always a door?"
Claire stared.
"No."
Behind the shelf, a narrow passage led to a room she had never seen.
Her own home contained a room she did not know existed.
Claire almost found that more insulting than the affair.
Inside were filing cabinets.
An old desk.
Two safes.
And Grant.
He sat on the floor holding a folder.
His face looked gray.
Claire stopped.
"What happened?"
Grant looked up.
"I found my father's files."
"You knew about this room?"
"No."
Claire did not believe him.
Grant saw it.
"My mother told me tonight."
"Why?"
"Because she thought I was still protecting her."
Daniel entered.
Grant laughed bitterly.
"Of course you brought a lawyer."
Claire ignored him.
"Why did your mother tell you about this room?"
Grant handed her the folder.
Inside were documents from Vale Biomedical.
Original ownership records.
Board drafts.
Private correspondence.
And one letter from Grant's father, Thomas Whitmore.
Claire read it.
Victoria,
I know what you and Charles have done with Vale. I will not allow Northstar to purchase an asset at an inflated price simply to cover your losses. Samuel has provided the supporting numbers. The board will be informed Monday.
Thomas.
Claire looked at Grant.
"When did he write this?"
"Three days before he died."
Daniel went still.
Grant's father had died from what everyone believed was a heart attack.
Claire remembered the funeral.
Grant had been thirty-one.
Destroyed.
"What are you saying?"
Grant's eyes filled with something Claire had never seen before.
Not fear.
Grief.
"My father was going to expose Vale before Northstar bought it."
Claire looked at the date again.
Grant continued.
"He died Friday night."
"Natural causes?"
"That's what the doctor said."
Daniel asked, "Was there an autopsy?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"My mother refused."
Claire sat slowly.
Grant stared at the floor.
"After Dad died, she told me he had supported the Vale acquisition. She showed me documents with his signature."
Daniel took the letter.
"Forgery?"
"I think so."
Claire looked around the hidden room.
"Why keep the real files?"
"Insurance."
Daniel nodded.
"People like Victoria often keep leverage."
Grant laughed bitterly.
"People like my mother."
Claire asked, "Who is Charles?"
Grant looked at her.
"Charles Vane."
Claire knew the name.
Northstar's former general counsel.
Retired.
Eighty years old.
Living somewhere in Connecticut.
Daniel swore.
"Charles signed the Vale closing documents."
Grant nodded.
Claire looked again at Thomas's letter.
"If your father planned to expose Victoria and died three days later, then Samuel tried to expose the same transaction and died months later."
Grant whispered, "I know."
"And you still helped cover it up."
He closed his eyes.
"I didn't know about Dad."
"But you knew about Vale."
"Yes."
Claire stood.
"You always have a reason."
Grant looked up.
"No. I have explanations. They aren't excuses."
That surprised her.
He continued.
"When Nathan found the Vale files, I thought the only crime was the acquisition fraud. I paid him because I was terrified of losing Northstar."
"You stole from Northstar to avoid losing Northstar."
"I know how insane that sounds now."
"It sounded insane then."
Grant almost smiled.
It disappeared quickly.
Daniel inspected another document.
"There's a reference here to something called Project Northstar."
Grant frowned.
"Our company?"
"No. This predates the modern corporate name."
Claire moved closer.
The letter was from Charles Vane to Victoria.
The language was vague.
If Thomas continues, Project Northstar must proceed before Monday. Everything depends on timing.
Claire felt the hairs rise on her arms.
"Project Northstar."
Grant stared at the page.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel shook his head.
"We need Charles."
Grant stood.
"My mother called federal agents on Nathan."
Claire looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"She admitted it."
"Why?"
"Because Nathan had the recording."
Daniel said, "Federal custody gives her access through lawyers, evidence procedures, discovery fights."
"Exactly."
Claire looked at Grant.
"What did she ask you to do?"
"Destroy this room."
"Instead you called me."
"I told you not to come."
"Same thing."
Grant shook his head.
"No. I wanted you far from here."
"Why?"
Grant looked toward the doorway.
"Because my mother is coming."
Claire stared.
"When?"
A voice answered from the library.
"I'm already here."
Victoria Whitmore appeared in the doorway.
She wore a pale gray coat.
Her silver-blonde hair was perfectly arranged.
Two men stood behind her.
Claire recognized neither.
Victoria looked around the hidden room.
Then at Grant.
"You always were too sentimental."
Grant moved between her and Claire.
"Leave."
Victoria sighed.
"After everything I've done for you?"
"You lied about Dad."
Victoria's expression remained calm.
"I protected you from things you were not strong enough to understand."
"You forged his signature."
"Lower your voice."
"Did you kill him?"
Silence.
Claire watched Victoria.
No shock.
No outrage.
Only disappointment.
"Grant," Victoria said softly, "there are questions a son should never ask his mother."
Grant stared at her.
Victoria's gaze moved toward Claire.
"And there are doors a wife should know better than to open."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I'd be careful."
Victoria smiled.
"Daniel Reed. Still mistaking legal training for courage."
One of the men behind her moved.
Grant grabbed a brass object from the desk.
"Don't."
Victoria raised a hand.
The man stopped.
Then she looked at Claire.
"You've created a remarkable mess."
Claire's voice was steady.
"No. I found yours."
Victoria smiled faintly.
"You still don't understand, do you?"
"Understand what?"
Victoria looked at Grant.
Then back at Claire.
"Northstar was never meant to belong to Grant."
Claire's expression changed.
May you like
Victoria continued.
"It was meant to belong to you."
