Chapter 10 - WHAT THE RABBIT HELD
Daniel moved them again that night.
This time, only four people knew the address.
Claire, Gabriel, June, and Daniel.
Léa slept through most of the drive, her cheek pressed against Claire’s arm.
At a quiet house owned by Daniel’s sister, Claire opened the seam beneath the stuffed rabbit’s ear.
She removed a small flash drive wrapped in plastic.
Gabriel looked at the worn toy.
“How long has that been in there?”
“Since the day they fired me.”
“You’ve been carrying it around with her?”
“I didn’t trust my apartment.”
The forensic accountant joined them by secure video the next morning.
Her name was Mara Bell. She had a flat voice and no patience for guesses.
“These files show a pattern,” she said. “They don’t prove every part of it yet.”
Gabriel leaned toward the screen.
“What do they prove?”
“That Northbridge received payments for services that Harbor House’s own logs say weren’t provided.”
“How much?”
“Potentially over a million dollars across three years.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“I knew it was more than the first invoices.”
Mara brought up an email chain.
Lucien had instructed staff to move disputed charges into a separate budget category before an audit.
Vivienne’s assistant had replied:
V wants this closed before G returns.
Gabriel felt something settle inside him.
Not relief.
Certainty.
Daniel received another call and stepped into the hall.
When he returned, he carried a printed laboratory report.
“The result came through.”
Nobody moved.
Gabriel took the paper.
Probability of paternity: 99.9999%.
He looked toward the kitchen.
Léa stood on a stool beside June, wearing one of Daniel’s sister’s oversized T-shirts while she stirred pancake batter.
His daughter.
No condition attached.
No room left for anyone’s opinion.
Claire watched him read.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He shook his head.
“Don’t apologize for her.”
His voice failed on the last word.
Léa turned.
“Did I do something?”
Gabriel set the report down and walked to her.
“No, sweetheart.”
“Why are you crying?”
He crouched beside the stool.
“Because I got some really important news.”
“Good news?”
“The best.”
She considered that, then held out the wooden spoon.
“Do you want to help?”
Before he could answer, Daniel’s phone rang again.
He listened, his face tightening.
May you like
Then he looked at Claire.
“The police want to interview you about the missing money.”
