Chapter 13 - They Tried to Make Claire the Thief
Vivian was questioned and released pending further investigation.
Money did not make problems disappear.
But it bought time.
Her attorneys immediately changed the story.
Vivian had visited Harbor Ridge out of concern.
The forged transfer papers had been planted.
She denied threatening Claire.
Denied ordering Damian.
Denied knowing Northstar's finances.
Within forty-eight hours, articles appeared online.
DELUCA EMPLOYEE AT CENTER OF MERCER FAMILY DISPUTE.
HOUSEKEEPER'S DAUGHTER ACCUSED OF EXTORTION.
Claire read the second headline twice.
“Housekeeper's daughter?”
Roman looked over her shoulder.
“They couldn't even insult you accurately.”
She laughed despite herself.
Then came the accusation.
Jewelry missing from Vivian's suite.
A diamond bracelet.
Value: $240,000.
Security records showed Claire had entered the room in November.
She had.
To deliver cleaned clothing.
Police arrived to ask questions.
Roman was furious.
Claire wasn't.
For the first time, she understood how Vivian worked.
Confuse the victim.
Change the story.
Turn money into credibility.
Claire gave permission to search her belongings.
Nothing.
Then an anonymous tip claimed the bracelet was hidden at Claire's old apartment.
Police found it beneath a loose floorboard in a storage closet.
Claire stared at the evidence photograph.
“I've never seen that bracelet.”
Roman believed her instantly.
But prosecutors needed proof.
Gabriel reviewed building footage.
One visitor entered Claire's apartment building three days earlier.
Baseball cap.
Maintenance uniform.
Face partially covered.
Damian Cross.
Except Damian was already cooperating with investigators and under surveillance.
So it wasn't him.
Roman studied the image.
“Marcus?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“Different height.”
Claire stared.
“Salvatore.”
Roman's expression hardened.
They compared old footage.
Same posture.
Same slight limp in the left leg.
Roman's uncle had planted the bracelet.
For what?
To discredit Claire.
If she became a suspected thief and extortionist, every statement she made about Christmas Eve became easier to attack.
Roman called Salvatore.
No answer.
Federal agents searched his residence.
Empty.
Another fugitive.
Claire sat in Roman's office that night.
“I ruin families.”
Roman looked up.
“What?”
“Your engagement. Your uncle.”
“No.”
“If I hadn't found that folder—”
“Victor would still be stealing from desperate families.”
“If I hadn't heard the conversation—”
“They would have stolen my company.”
“If I hadn't worked here—”
Roman stood.
“Stop.”
Claire went quiet.
“You didn't create any of this.”
“But everything changed after me.”
“You revealed it.”
“That isn't the same?”
“No.”
Roman approached.
“When rot is hidden behind a wall and someone opens the door, they didn't cause the rot.”
Claire looked at him.
“You practiced that speech?”
“No.”
“It sounded practiced.”
“I can make it worse if you'd like.”
She smiled faintly.
Then her eyes filled.
“I just wanted to take care of Lily.”
“I know.”
“I didn't want any of this.”
Roman's voice softened.
“I know.”
For a moment she looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Deeply.
Roman opened his arms without thinking.
Claire stared.
He almost withdrew them.
Then she stepped forward.
He held her.
No seduction.
No dramatic kiss.
Just warmth.
Claire pressed her forehead against his chest.
Roman rested his cheek against her hair.
“I hate snow now,” she whispered.
Roman tightened his arms.
“I'll remove it from the state.”
She laughed into his coat.
“Very reasonable.”
“I've been told I'm intense.”
“Lily says that.”
“Smart woman.”
Claire remained there longer than either expected.
When she finally moved back, their faces were close.
Roman looked at her lips.
Claire noticed.
Neither crossed the distance.
Not yet.
A knock interrupted them.
Daniel entered.
Then stopped.
“Sorry.”
Claire stepped away immediately.
Roman looked irritated.
Daniel pretended not to notice.
“I found something.”
“Please tell me it's good.”
“It depends.”
He placed a folder on Roman's desk.
“Granite Harbor purchased the Bennett family debt from the original emergency lender two months after Thomas Bennett died.”
Claire frowned.
“So Dad didn't borrow from Granite Harbor?”
“No.”
“Then why did they tell me he did?”
“To hide the transfer.”
Daniel continued.
“The original lender settled the balance using your father's life-insurance payment.”
Claire stared.
“What are you saying?”
Roman understood first.
Daniel looked at Claire.
“Your father's debt was paid.”
The room became silent.
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
Claire couldn't speak.
Daniel's voice softened.
“Every payment you've made since then was based on a fabricated balance.”
Claire sat.
Sixty-two thousand dollars.
Years of overtime.
Missed holidays.
Fear.
Threats.
All for a debt that didn't exist.
Tears came silently.
Roman crouched beside her.
Claire whispered, “They stole three years.”
Roman took her hand.
“We'll get it back.”
“You can't give time back.”
“No.”
His thumb brushed her fingers.
“But we can make sure they don't take another day.”
Daniel placed another document down.
“There is more.”
Claire looked up.
“Granite Harbor did this to hundreds of deceased borrowers' families.”
Roman's expression went cold.
A systematic fraud.
Worse than they'd thought.
Daniel continued.
“And Evelyn Shaw, the former accountant, has the internal database proving it.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe house.”
Roman nodded.
“When does she testify?”
“Tomorrow.”
Claire looked at Roman.
This could finally destroy Granite Harbor.
Then Daniel hesitated.
“What?”
Roman asked.
“She received a message an hour ago.”
“From?”
“Unknown.”
“What does it say?”
Daniel turned his phone.
ONE WITNESS ALREADY ENDED UP IN THE SNOW. DON'T BE THE SECOND.
Claire stared at the screen.
Someone was still free.
Someone who knew exactly what happened Christmas Eve.
May you like
And they were willing to use it again.
---
