Chapter 6 - Friday
Claire arrived at Ardent Sky at 12:22 p.m.
Rebecca waited three blocks away.
A private investigator sat inside the restaurant.
Claire wore the recording device beneath her dress.
Daniel was already seated.
Charcoal suit.
Black shirt.
No tie.
His favorite combination when he wanted to appear relaxed.
“You look beautiful.”
Claire sat opposite him.
“So do you.”
Daniel laughed.
“I’ve missed that.”
“What?”
“Your sarcasm.”
A waiter approached.
Daniel had already ordered champagne.
Claire smiled.
“No alcohol.”
Daniel frowned.
“Since when?”
“Since this morning.”
“Why?”
“Headache.”
For half a second, irritation flashed across his face.
Then disappeared.
“Water?”
“Sure.”
The waiter poured from a bottle.
Claire watched.
Daniel watched her watching.
Their eyes met.
He smiled.
Lunch began.
Daniel talked about memories.
Their first apartment.
Their honeymoon.
The night Claire’s father introduced Daniel to the Mercer-Bell board.
Then he reached into his briefcase.
“There’s something I need you to sign.”
Claire almost smiled.
There it was.
A folder.
She opened it.
Share transfer authorization.
Seventeen percent of Mercer-Bell Holdings.
Transferred into a marital trust controlled by Daniel.
Claire looked up.
“Why?”
“For tax purposes.”
“No.”
Daniel blinked.
“No?”
“I’m not signing.”
His jaw tightened.
“Claire, we discussed this.”
“You discussed it.”
“It protects us.”
“From what?”
Daniel stared at her.
Then smiled.
“Fine.”
He closed the folder.
“Not today.”
Too easy.
Claire knew immediately.
The signature had been Plan A.
Something else was Plan B.
The waiter returned.
Two drinks were placed on the table.
Claire’s sparkling water.
Daniel’s bourbon.
Then Daniel’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
“I have to take this.”
He stood.
Claire watched him walk toward the glass wall.
She looked down.
Her water.
His bourbon.
Nothing unusual.
Daniel returned.
Five minutes later Claire’s phone rang.
Rebecca.
Claire answered.
“Excuse me.”
She turned toward the skyline.
Rebecca’s voice was urgent.
“Get out.”
“What happened?”
“We found Kessler.”
Claire’s blood chilled.
“And?”
“He bought a sedative yesterday.”
Claire stared into the reflection of the glass wall.
Behind her, Daniel reached into his jacket.
A tiny packet appeared between his fingers.
Claire didn’t move.
She watched him tear it.
Watched him empty it into her drink.
Watched him stir.
Rebecca was still speaking.
“Claire?”
“I have to go.”
“Claire, leave now.”
Claire ended the call.
Daniel looked up.
Their eyes met through the reflection.
He smiled.
“Everything okay?”
Claire turned.
“Perfect.”
Daniel pushed the drink toward her.
“Drink up, sweetheart.”
Claire smiled.
May you like
And then the restaurant entrance opened.
Vanessa Cole walked inside.
