Chapter 10 - Claire Tells the Truth)
Adrian escaped the factory.
Walter did not.
Within hours, the investigation expanded from kidnapping into fraud, conspiracy, financial manipulation, unlawful surveillance, falsification of corporate records, and possible evidence connected to crimes committed decades earlier.
Claire was arrested before sunrise.
Grant watched officers place her in the back of a car.
She did not look at him.
She looked at Noah.
Noah hid behind Megan.
Claire's face broke for half a second.
Then the door closed.
Grant expected to feel satisfaction.
He felt only exhaustion.
The next morning, he removed every work appointment from his calendar.
For the first time in years, Vance Group could wait.
Noah could not.
Grant sat on the floor of his son's room while staff repaired the damage.
"Do you want a different room?"
Noah shook his head.
"Do you want to stay somewhere else for a while?"
Another shake.
Grant looked at him.
"What do you want?"
Noah whispered, "You."
Grant felt his eyes burn.
"I'm here."
"For how long?"
The question destroyed every excuse Grant had ever made.
He took Noah's hand.
"As long as you need me."
Megan stood outside the doorway and quietly walked away to give them privacy.
Later that afternoon, Claire's attorney called.
Claire wanted to speak with Grant.
He refused.
Then the attorney said, "She has information about Adrian Hale."
Grant went to the county detention center with Samuel present.
Claire entered the interview room wearing gray clothing and no makeup.
For the first time since Grant met her, she looked ordinary.
She sat across from him.
"How is Noah?"
Grant's expression hardened.
"You lost the right to ask."
Claire looked down.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
"I didn't mean to hit him that hard."
Grant stood.
Samuel put a hand on his arm.
Claire flinched.
Grant sat again.
"If you want me to stay, talk about Adrian."
She nodded.
"Adrian contacted me eighteen months ago."
"You knew him before that."
"Only as someone from childhood. Victor never explained who he really was."
"When did he tell you?"
"After I married you."
Grant stared at her.
"He said Thomas stole from Victor and Edward."
"Did you verify it?"
"He showed me documents."
"So you helped him access my house."
"At first, only records."
"Then Noah's trust."
Claire nodded.
"Adrian said Elena had discovered the fraud and built a way to correct it."
"That part is true."
"He said the trustees would never activate it because you controlled them."
"I don't."
"I know that now."
Grant looked at her with disgust.
"You forged my signature."
Claire's eyes filled.
"Yes."
"You helped create a company to receive Noah's inheritance."
"Adrian said it would be temporary."
"Northbridge?"
"Yes."
"Who owns it?"
"I thought Adrian and I did."
"You don't?"
She shook her head.
"Walter controlled the real beneficiary records."
Samuel leaned forward.
"Did you ever meet Walter privately?"
"Many times."
Grant's jaw tightened.
Claire continued.
"Walter handled the cameras and access logs. He copied Grant's signature certificates."
"Who manipulated the company financial records?"
"I thought Julian did."
Grant's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"Adrian said Julian was stealing money."
"Was Julian part of your plan?"
"No."
"Then why did he come to the house?"
"I contacted him."
"Why?"
"I told him I'd found evidence about his father."
Grant understood.
Claire had been manipulating Julian while Adrian manipulated Claire.
"Did Julian know you were forging the trust transfer?"
"No."
"Did he know about Northbridge?"
"I don't think so."
Samuel asked, "Where is the blue ledger?"
Claire shook her head.
"Adrian had it."
Grant frowned.
"He was searching for it in my house."
"Because he lost it."
"When?"
"Margaret took it."
Samuel sat forward.
"What?"
Claire explained.
Three weeks earlier, Adrian found the ledger inside a hidden cabinet in Elena's study.
He gave it to Walter for safekeeping.
Walter brought it to a meeting with Margaret, intending to force her to authenticate the contents.
Margaret grabbed it during the confrontation and escaped the room.
Walter caught her in the parking garage.
But the ledger was gone.
"Where did she put it?" Grant asked.
"I don't know."
Samuel looked at Grant.
"Margaret must."
Grant stood.
Claire said, "There's something else."
He stopped.
"What?"
"Adrian is not trying to recover money anymore."
Grant turned.
"What is he trying to do?"
"Destroy Vance Group."
"Why?"
"Because the ledger doesn't only prove Thomas stole ownership."
Claire took a breath.
"It proves Thomas was responsible for Robert Cross's death."
Grant thought of Julian.
"And Edward?"
Claire's eyes changed.
"Edward found out."
"What happened?"
"Thomas paid Victor to make him disappear."
"Victor killed Edward?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Claire looked at Grant.
"Victor helped Edward fake his death."
Grant froze.
"So Edward could still be alive."
Claire nodded.
"Adrian believes he is."
Samuel asked, "Where?"
"Adrian has spent years looking."
"Did he find him?"
Claire shook her head.
"Not until last month."
Grant's heartbeat quickened.
"Where is Edward?"
Claire looked directly at him.
"In a private care facility in Maine."
"Alive?"
"Yes."
Grant sat back down.
"Then why is Adrian doing any of this? Edward can testify."
Claire's expression became frightened.
"Because Edward doesn't support him."
Grant stared.
Claire continued.
"Edward told Adrian to leave Noah alone. He said the sins belonged to Thomas, not to you and not to Noah."
Samuel understood first.
"Adrian needs the ledger because Edward won't cooperate."
Claire nodded.
Grant asked, "Where is the facility?"
"I don't know the exact address."
"Who does?"
"One person."
"Who?"
May you like
Claire looked through the glass wall toward the corridor.
"Julian."
