Chapter 5 - SOMEONE WAS LYING
Victor ordered security to review every camera on the property.
Thirty minutes later, the head of security appeared in his office looking uncomfortable.
“There’s a gap.”
Victor’s voice became very quiet.
“What kind of gap?”
“Cameras around the pool house went offline between 9:14 and 10:06.”
“When did Cole climb up?”
“Approximately 9:42.”
Clara leaned against the doorway.
“So somebody cut the ladder chain during the exact window the cameras stopped working?”
The security chief nodded.
Grant stood near the fireplace.
“This is ridiculous.”
Victor turned.
“Is it?”
“You think someone tried to hurt Cole?”
“I think somebody cut a chain.”
“Could’ve rusted.”
Clara held up a photograph on her phone.
The metal was bright and smooth.
“That’s a cut.”
Grant looked at her.
“You’re a nanny now and a forensic engineer?”
“I know what broken metal looks like.”
He smiled coldly.
“You’ve worked here less than twenty-four hours.”
“And already one child almost cracked his skull.”
Victor stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Grant lifted his hands.
“Fine.”
He left.
As the door shut, Clara looked at Victor.
“You trust him?”
“He’s my brother.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Victor rubbed his face.
“My wife used to ask me the same thing.”
Clara went still.
“Elena?”
He looked at her sharply.
“The boys told me her name.”
Victor walked toward the window.
“She didn’t trust Grant.”
“Why?”
“Business.”
“That vague answer probably works in boardrooms.”
He ignored the jab.
“Our father left Hale Holdings equally to Grant and me. I became CEO. Grant never got over it.”
“And Elena?”
“She believed he was moving money through shell companies.”
“Was he?”
“We never proved it.”
Clara thought about the photograph.
DON’T TRUST WHAT GRANT TELLS YOU.
“Victor.”
“What?”
“Did Elena’s death have anything to do with it?”
He turned.
“No.”
Too quick.
Clara stepped closer.
“How did she die?”
“Car accident.”
“When?”
“Two years ago.”
“Was she alone?”
His face closed.
“This conversation is over.”
“Fine.”
Clara walked out.
She hated rich people’s favorite sentence.
This conversation is over.
Her ex-husband loved it too.
At noon, Derek proved he had not improved.
He called while Clara was making sandwiches.
“What’s this I hear about you living with some billionaire?”
Clara’s stomach dropped.
“Excuse me?”
“You got a job at Hale’s house.”
“How do you know?”
“My lawyer knows things.”
“Your lawyer is stalking me?”
“My lawyer is protecting our daughter.”
Clara turned away from the boys.
“By digging through my employment?”
“You moved into a strange man’s house.”
“I have a private apartment.”
“A man with a reputation.”
She almost laughed.
“Your concern for reputation is touching.”
Derek’s voice hardened.
“Lily isn’t staying there.”
“You don’t decide that.”
“The judge might.”
Clara lowered her voice.
“You wanted stable employment. I found it.”
“You found a rich man.”
That hit exactly where he wanted.
She gripped the counter.
“You’re disgusting.”
“I’m realistic.”
“No, Derek. You’re scared.”
“Of what?”
“That I’ll get back on my feet and you won’t be able to control me anymore.”
Silence.
Then Derek said, “See you in court.”
The line went dead.
Clara stood there shaking.
A small voice came from behind her.
“Is Derek mean?”
She turned.
Mason.
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough.”
“You shouldn’t listen to private calls.”
“You shouldn’t talk so loud.”
Fair.
Mason climbed onto a stool.
“Is he Lily’s dad?”
“Yes.”
“Does he want to take her?”
Clara forced a smile.
“Adults are handling it.”
Mason rolled his eyes.
“Adults are terrible at handling stuff.”
Before Clara could answer, Theo rushed into the kitchen.
His face was pale.
“Clara.”
“What happened?”
“I found something.”
He held out a black phone.
Old.
Cracked.
Dead.
“Whose is it?”
May you like
Theo whispered:
“My mom’s.”
