Melissa answered my call on the second ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cHome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStay there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice sharpened. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Nina and I are coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another pause, longer this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have plans.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCancel them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t get to order me around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. But the investigators who are about to subpoena your communications may be less flexible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Then she said, \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sentence settled the question more effectively than a confession.<\/p>\n
I had not told her what we found.<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later, Nina and I pulled into the circular driveway of the townhouse Melissa bought two years earlier. Daniel had once told me she financed it through commissions from her real-estate business.<\/p>\n
Now I wondered which commissions.<\/p>\n
Melissa opened the door before we knocked.<\/p>\n
She wore black trousers and an oversized cream sweater, her hair pulled into a careless knot. No makeup. No jewelry except the diamond studs Patricia gave her when she turned thirty.<\/p>\n
She looked younger without the armor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes he know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKnow what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes moved toward Nina.<\/p>\n
I stepped inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat you\u2019ve been communicating with Graham Vale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa\u2019s face emptied.<\/p>\n
Only for a second.<\/p>\n
Then she laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s your emergency?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did you last speak with him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s involved in the sale.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI introduced clients to Prescott.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat wasn\u2019t my question.\u201d<\/p>\n
She folded her arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Graham socially.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReal estate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat transaction?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have to answer you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Nina said calmly. \u201cYou can answer voluntarily, or the relevant records can be obtained through formal process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa\u2019s gaze returned to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve become dramatic.\u201d<\/p>\n
The insult barely registered.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you tell Graham we found my father\u2019s Halcyon lawsuit?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her expression changed.<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know anything about your father.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew enough to warn Graham this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t warn anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe traced the call.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked toward the kitchen.<\/p>\n
A tiny movement.<\/p>\n
But Nina saw it too.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour work phone,\u201d I said. \u201cPrescott administrative line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat line is used by multiple people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen give us your personal phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s personal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stepped backward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m done with this.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stayed where I was.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel thought you knew almost nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face tightened.<\/p>\n
That struck deeper than the accusation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe always thinks that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat I know nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bitterness was immediate.<\/p>\n
Not manufactured.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe gives me money, tells me where to show up, and assumes I don\u2019t understand the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than he thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much more?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at Nina again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d Nina said. \u201cYou should have one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa stared at her.<\/p>\n
She had expected intimidation.<\/p>\n
Nina\u2019s agreement frightened her more.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not some criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want me to say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat you believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her mouth opened.<\/p>\n
Then closed.<\/p>\n
The woman who had laughed at me across the anniversary table suddenly seemed very far away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy Graham?\u201d<\/p>\n
I asked.<\/p>\n
Melissa sat on the edge of a chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe helped me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProperties.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHarrison?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes lifted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFairmont?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo apartment projects. A retail development.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose money?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout eight hundred thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel said you expected five million from the Northcrest sale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was after closing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy share.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had no shares.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFamily share.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no family share.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words came quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know it then?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her jaw worked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom always said Daniel would take care of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn\u2019t ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you understand at the anniversary dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
That surprised me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why call me a freeloader?\u201d<\/p>\n
Color rose into her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was angry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Graham said you were going to ruin everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went still.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did he say that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long before?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA week.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly did he tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Northcrest was ready to close, but your ownership was creating a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lawful ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he say Daniel lacked my approval?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa nodded.<\/p>\n
My chest tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew there were documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn\u2019t an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew Daniel was handling it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew I hadn\u2019t consented.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
The anniversary laughter acquired a different shape.<\/p>\n
She had not merely believed Daniel\u2019s version of me.<\/p>\n
She knew I stood between her and money.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive million.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said it softly.<\/p>\n
Melissa flinched.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mocked me because you thought I was costing you five million dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
She wiped under one eye angrily.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounds horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You know now because it failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked down.<\/p>\n
That landed.<\/p>\n
Nina sat opposite her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did Graham contact you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel introduced us at a fundraiser last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore Northcrest approached Prescott?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina and I exchanged a glance.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow well did you know him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow often?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes weekly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout Prescott?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Graham want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n
She rubbed her palms against her trousers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat Daniel worried about. What Mom thought. Whether Claire was involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were feeding him information.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think of it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you think you were doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he wanted to understand the family dynamics before investing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he pay you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he direct investment opportunities to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Nina leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelissa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much did you make?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe three hundred thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom opportunities Graham referred?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was the payment.<\/p>\n
Not labeled payment.<\/p>\n
Opportunity.<\/p>\n
Exactly how people like Graham kept their hands clean.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he ever mention Victor Sloane?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMonths ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Victor could solve Daniel\u2019s Claire problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt the words like ice along my spine.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how he said it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t object?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought he meant the ownership structure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood and walked toward the window.<\/p>\n
Outside, sprinklers ticked across an immaculate strip of lawn.<\/p>\n
For nine years, Daniel had reduced me privately.<\/p>\n
Graham and Victor had reduced me professionally.<\/p>\n
And Melissa had accepted their description because the alternative required seeing me as a person whose rights mattered more than her payout.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you call Graham today?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe called me first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo know what you had found.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you know about Dad\u2019s records?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia.<\/p>\n
Of course.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did Patricia know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel called Dad. Dad told Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family information chain had survived everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you tell Graham?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Arthur Morgan had worked for Halcyon and you found his lawsuit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa\u2019s voice cracked.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Graham said Halcyon could protect us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFederal investigators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina\u2019s expression sharpened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said if Halcyon self-reported first, they could frame Fairmont as historical misconduct by dead or former employees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard.<\/p>\n
Martin.<\/p>\n
Possibly my father.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeaning they would control the narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd protect Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he ask you to do besides call?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa went still.<\/p>\n
I saw fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelissa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wanted something from Daniel\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat drive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor gave Daniel a black encrypted drive after one of their meetings.\u201d<\/p>\n
My pulse accelerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you take it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you look for it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa started crying.<\/p>\n
That answered me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you enter Daniel\u2019s office?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI still have an access card.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you find the drive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina was already calling security.<\/p>\n
I thought of Daniel surrendering his phone.<\/p>\n
The cabin files.<\/p>\n
The boxes.<\/p>\n
He had never mentioned a black drive.<\/p>\n
I called him.<\/p>\n
He answered immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Victor give you an encrypted drive?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did you last see it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMonths ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was on it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t open everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat could you open?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFairmont files.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich ones?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmails. Scans. Halcyon records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything we don\u2019t already have?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you give it to Nina?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I forgot about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost shouted.<\/p>\n
Instead, I lowered my voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did you keep it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy office safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa looked at me.<\/p>\n
She mouthed, Empty.<\/p>\n
I told him.<\/p>\n
Daniel swore.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did you last see it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore my suspension.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knew the combination?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe. Andrew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia again.<\/p>\n
I ended the call.<\/p>\n
Melissa wiped her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cGraham said the drive could destroy people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen how did he know it existed?\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked him that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Victor kept insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina returned from her call.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity is pulling footage.\u201d<\/p>\n
We waited twelve minutes.<\/p>\n
The answer arrived as a video clip.<\/p>\n
Daniel\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Three weeks earlier.<\/p>\n
Patricia entered after business hours.<\/p>\n
She stayed eleven minutes.<\/p>\n
When she left, she carried her handbag and nothing visible.<\/p>\n
But before entering, the bag hung flat.<\/p>\n
Afterward, its shape was squared at one corner.<\/p>\n
Daniel watched the footage remotely.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother took it.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice sounded almost detached.<\/p>\n
I asked, \u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt home, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire, don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo am I.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You don\u2019t understand Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cGraham didn\u2019t start talking to me because of Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe already knew Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYears.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina asked, \u201cBefore Northcrest?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore Victor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
My pulse accelerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you say this ten minutes ago?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she\u2019s my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa looked sick.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd because Graham told me the five million wasn\u2019t Daniel\u2019s idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
I already knew Graham had shaped the payout.<\/p>\n
But Melissa continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said Mom negotiated it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cNegotiated with whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGraham.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore Northcrest made the formal offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia had not merely accepted a family payout after Daniel created one.<\/p>\n
She had negotiated her children\u2019s proceeds directly with the buyer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much for herself?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThink.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa whispered, \u201cMore than we were told.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard Graham say eight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eight million.<\/p>\n
Patricia had publicly behaved as if Daniel was distributing his success to his family.<\/p>\n
Privately, she may have negotiated her own eight-million-dollar interest in a transaction involving property she did not own.<\/p>\n
Nina\u2019s phone buzzed.<\/p>\n
Security had found another clip.<\/p>\n
Two nights after Patricia entered Daniel\u2019s office, she met someone in the Prescott parking garage.<\/p>\n
The camera angle showed only his profile.<\/p>\n
Silver hair.<\/p>\n
Tall.<\/p>\n
Dark overcoat.<\/p>\n
Graham Vale.<\/p>\n
Patricia handed him something small enough to fit in his coat pocket.<\/p>\n
A black encrypted drive.<\/p>\n
Melissa covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
I watched the clip again.<\/p>\n
Daniel had spent days insisting his mother knew only pieces.<\/p>\n
He had been wrong about Melissa.<\/p>\n
Now he appeared to have been even more wrong about Patricia.<\/p>\n
My phone rang.<\/p>\n
Patricia.<\/p>\n
I answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice was controlled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re with Melissa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not a question.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe called me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa shook her head.<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
She whispered, \u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to stop digging.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou stole a drive from Daniel\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou gave it to Graham.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is it now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was on it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t understand what you\u2019re dealing with.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sentence is popular in your family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time, her voice broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cArthur Morgan did not leave Halcyon because of the lawsuit.\u201d<\/p>\n
My grip tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe left because Martin Sloane threatened you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stopped breathing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were a child.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Nina.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia whispered, \u201cBecause I was there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melissa answered my call on the second ring. \u201cClaire?\u201d \u201cWhere are you?\u201d A pause. \u201cHome.\u201d \u201cStay there.\u201d Her voice sharpened. \u201cWhy?\u201d \u201cBecause Nina and I are coming.\u201d Another pause, longer … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12113"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12141,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12113\/revisions\/12141"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}