Chapter 6 - The Perfect Scapegoat)
Grant wanted Claire removed from the property.
Claire refused.
They argued in the library for nearly twenty minutes.
"This isn't a request," Grant said.
Claire folded her arms.
"Then fire me."
"I'm trying to keep you alive."
"And I'm trying to keep Noah alive."
"Claire."
"If I leave, Vanessa wins."
Grant stared at her.
"You think this is a game?"
"No. I think someone has spent months building a story where I'm the unstable maid who can't stop interfering with your son."
Grant said nothing.
Claire placed the photograph on the table.
"They want me here."
"Exactly."
"Then use that."
David Rowan, sitting nearby, looked between them.
"She's right."
Grant turned.
David continued.
"Whoever is behind this has already invested time in making Claire look unreliable. If she disappears, they will need another plan."
Grant looked furious.
Claire knew the anger was not directed at her.
That did not make it easier.
David leaned forward.
"We maintain the appearance that nothing has changed."
Grant laughed without humor.
"You want me to leave my son beside someone who may have killed my wife."
"No. I want Vanessa to believe you still trust her."
Grant walked to the fireplace.
Claire saw the conflict in his face.
Finally he said, "Claire stays only if she follows instructions."
Claire nodded.
"What instructions?"
"You never stay alone with Vanessa."
"Fine."
"You carry a new recorder."
"Fine."
"You do not confront her."
Claire hesitated.
"Fine."
Grant turned.
"And if I tell you to run, you run."
Claire looked at Noah playing on the rug.
"We'll see."
Grant almost smiled despite himself.
That evening Vanessa noticed nothing.
Or pretended not to.
Grant acted affectionate at dinner.
He discussed wedding arrangements.
Vanessa relaxed.
Claire hated watching it.
She also began noticing something unexpected.
Grant was not simply good at pretending.
He had become skilled at hiding pain.
Whenever Vanessa mentioned Evelyn, Grant's eyes changed for a fraction of a second.
Then the reaction disappeared.
Claire wondered how long he had lived that way.
Two days later, Vanessa created another crisis.
Noah developed a rash after breakfast.
The doctor was called.
Vanessa claimed Claire had given him a new food.
Claire had not.
She checked the kitchen.
A jar of strawberry puree sat open beside Noah's bowl.
Noah had a documented strawberry sensitivity.
Claire had never served it.
Vanessa entered behind her.
"This looks bad."
Claire turned.
"You did this."
Vanessa sighed.
"You really need a new sentence."
Claire stepped closer.
"You could have made him sick."
"But I didn't."
Claire froze.
Vanessa smiled.
"You see, that's your problem. You always exaggerate."
Claire felt the recorder beneath her apron.
Vanessa did not know it was there.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Trying to get rid of me."
Vanessa moved closer.
"Because you don't understand boundaries."
"No. Because Noah trusts me."
The smile disappeared.
Claire saw it.
A brief flash of resentment.
Then Vanessa recovered.
"You're a maid."
"And you're jealous of a baby."
Vanessa slapped her.
The sound cracked through the kitchen.
Claire did not move.
She looked directly at Vanessa.
"Thank you."
Vanessa frowned.
"For what?"
Claire touched the recorder through her apron.
Vanessa's face changed.
She reached forward.
Claire stepped back.
Grant entered.
"What's going on?"
Vanessa immediately turned emotional.
"She threatened me."
Claire stared at her.
Grant looked at Claire.
For one terrible second, Claire feared he would expose the plan.
Instead, his face hardened.
"Claire, go upstairs."
Vanessa smiled.
Claire understood.
He needed Vanessa confident.
Still, humiliation burned.
Claire left.
That night Grant knocked on her door.
She opened it but did not invite him inside.
He held the recorder.
"David copied everything."
Claire touched her cheek.
"Great."
Grant looked ashamed.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For making you stand there while she lied."
"You didn't make her hit me."
"No. I made you stay."
Claire's anger softened slightly.
Grant looked toward the hallway.
"The recording matters."
"Enough to arrest her?"
"No."
Claire laughed bitterly.
"Nothing is enough."
"Not yet."
He handed the recorder back.
"Tomorrow I'm announcing the wedding date."
Claire looked at him.
"When?"
"Three weeks."
Her pulse accelerated.
"Before Noah's birthday."
"Yes."
Claire remembered Evelyn's recording.
Before the boy turns one.
Grant lowered his voice.
"If Vanessa is planning something, she may accelerate it."
Claire stared at him.
"You're using yourself as bait."
Grant shook his head.
"No."
May you like
His eyes moved toward Noah's nursery.
"We're all bait now."
