Chapter 9 - vanessa’s second phone
Deputy Pike would not allow Claire to enter archive room 314 until a warrant was approved.
The room belonged to Bennett Hospitality, not the resort’s general operations, and Margaret’s attorney had already objected to any search.
While they waited, Deputy Ortiz searched the family suite with Henry’s written consent.
Inside Vanessa’s bathroom, he found a second phone hidden inside a box of cosmetics.
The device contained photographs of Claire’s apartment, Noah’s school, Mrs. Palmer’s building, and the entrance to Claire’s studio.
Vanessa had not taken the photographs herself.
They had been sent by a contact saved as Director.
There were also instructions.
Make sure Claire attends the meeting.
Keep Noah at the pool until 1:50.
Place the towel beside the west corridor.
Do not answer resort calls.
Post the photograph at 2:12.
Wait for Margaret’s approval before returning to the lobby.
Claire read the messages while Vanessa sat across from her in the conference room.
“How long have you been helping them watch us?”
“Two months.”
“You followed Noah to school?”
“No. Someone sent me the pictures.”
“And you never asked who?”
“I knew Mom had hired an investigator.”
Claire placed the phone on the table.
“You could have stopped this at any point.”
“I thought it was paperwork.”
“You put a tracking tag on his toy.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn’t.”
“The toy disappeared from his backpack after we arrived.”
“I saw Caleb take it from the luggage cart.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know what he was doing.”
“You didn’t want to know.”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“I owe $280,000.”
Claire stared at her.
“How?”
“Loans. Investments. A business that failed.”
“You told everyone the business was profitable.”
“I lied.”
Margaret had promised to clear the debt in exchange for Vanessa’s cooperation. Half the amount had already been transferred to one of Vanessa’s creditors through a consulting company.
Claire recognized the company name from Adrian’s old notes.
North Coast Strategic Partners.
Marcus searched the corporate registration.
The company had been dissolved two years earlier.
Its last authorized representative had been Adrian Mercer.
“That’s impossible,” Claire said.
Marcus turned the screen toward her.
Several payments had been made from the dissolved company after Adrian’s death.
The most recent transfer occurred that morning.
Vanessa saw the record and looked confused.
“Mom said it came from her private account.”
“It didn’t.”
Deputy Pike entered.
“We recovered messages from your mother’s second phone. She received the same instructions you did.”
Vanessa looked up.
“So she wasn’t Director?”
“No. She was communicating with someone using that name.”
Claire felt the room shift.
“Margaret was taking orders?”
“Or pretending to,” Deputy Pike said. “The sender used a masked number. We are requesting records.”
“Did she answer the messages?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Deputy Pike opened a transcript.
Margaret had sent:
Claire will resist.
Director had replied:
Then remind her what happened to Adrian when he resisted.
Claire gripped the edge of the table.
“What happened to my husband?”
Vanessa looked frightened.
“I never saw that message.”
Deputy Pike continued.
Margaret’s next response had been:
Do not use his name. We agreed Noah would not be harmed.
Director answered:
Noah is the reason this must happen before his birthday.
Claire stood.
“I want to speak to my mother.”
“That isn’t advisable,” Marcus said.
“I wasn’t asking.”
Margaret was seated in a private lounge with her attorney.
When Claire entered, Margaret looked at Deputy Pike.
“This is harassment.”
Claire placed the transcript on the table.
“What happened to Adrian?”
Margaret read the messages.
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in her eyes.
“You weren’t supposed to see this.”
“What happened to him?”
“Your husband died in a boating accident.”
“Then why is someone using his company, his email, and his name to direct this plan?”
Margaret looked toward the windows.
“Because Adrian discovered something he should have left alone.”
Claire stepped closer.
“What?”
Margaret’s attorney touched her wrist.
“Do not answer.”
Margaret ignored him.
“Your husband believed there was a hidden ownership agreement connected to Sapphire Dunes.”
“What kind of agreement?”
“I never saw it.”
“Who did?”
“Your father.”
Claire looked toward the door.
Henry had returned from the suite carrying a small brass key.
When he heard Margaret’s answer, he stopped.
Then he opened his hand.
May you like
A blue tag hung from the key.
314.
