Chapter 7 - THE FAMILY BUSINESS
Lucien answered on the fourth ring.
“You missed the meeting.”
Gabriel stood in an empty hospital stairwell.
“Why were you at Harbor House?”
A brief silence.
Then a laugh.
“Good morning to you, too.”
“Who’s the man in the blue jacket?”
“You’ll need to narrow that down.”
“I have a photograph.”
“Then you have your answer.”
“What did you do to Claire?”
Lucien stopped laughing.
“Careful.”
Gabriel gripped the railing.
“No. You be careful.”
“Your mother told me you were upset. I suggested giving you space.”
“You sent someone to her apartment.”
“I sent a compliance consultant to recover company property.”
“From a nonprofit employee?”
“Harbor House receives funding through our foundation. Its records concern us.”
Gabriel went still.
“Which records?”
“Ask your new family.”
The line disconnected.
At Daniel’s office that afternoon, the pieces began fitting together.
Harbor House paid a consulting company called Northbridge Services for housing support. Northbridge billed for apartments that tenants said they had never occupied.
Its registration led through two holding companies.
The last shared an address with Lucien’s private investment firm.
“Claire noticed duplicate invoices,” Daniel said. “She reported them internally.”
“To whom?”
“The board chair.”
“Who appointed the chair?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Your mother’s foundation.”
Gabriel stood and walked to the window.
Below, traffic crawled through the rain.
He had spent years signing annual reports filled with photographs of grateful families.
He wondered how many names on those pages belonged to people Claire knew.
“Get an outside forensic accountant.”
“Already called one.”
“And send preservation notices.”
Daniel nodded.
“Gabriel, understand something. If these records support what Claire says, this could affect the entire company.”
“Then it affects the entire company.”
His phone rang.
Claire.
He answered immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s gone.”
Everything inside him stopped.
“Who?”
“Léa. I fell asleep. Nina thought she was with June, but June hasn’t arrived yet.”
Gabriel was already moving.
“Call security.”
“I did.”
“Claire, listen to me. Stay in the room.”
He reached the elevator and stabbed the button.
Then another call appeared.
Unknown number.
He switched lines.
A woman spoke.
“Mr. Valmont, this is hospital security. We have your daughter on camera.”
“Where?”
“Leaving the west lobby.”
“With whom?”
May you like
The woman hesitated.
“Your mother.”
