Chapter 13 - Blood Is Not Loyalty
Julian returned to the city without calling Claire.
He listened to every recording.
The truth was more complicated than betrayal.
Claire had known Richard was working with Vanessa.
She had known about the false trust.
She had also known Martha was being medicated.
But the recordings revealed something else.
Claire had not joined the plan for money.
Richard had been blackmailing her.
Five years earlier, Claire had authorized payments from a Hale subsidiary to cover losses from her husband’s failed investment company.
The transactions were technically embezzlement.
Richard had discovered them.
He threatened prison.
He threatened custody proceedings involving Claire’s children.
So Claire cooperated.
At first.
Then the cooperation deepened.
She gave Richard board schedules.
Trust information.
Security access.
Medical contacts.
And eventually, she stopped sounding frightened.
She started sounding practical.
Julian drove to her house.
Claire opened the door.
One look at his face told her everything.
“You found Emily.”
“Yes.”
Claire stepped aside.
Julian entered.
“Why?”
Claire began crying.
“Julian.”
“Why?”
“He trapped me.”
“You gave him access to Mom.”
“I didn’t know Vanessa would hurt her.”
“You knew about the drugs.”
“I knew Richard said they were mild.”
Julian stared at her.
“You heard yourself?”
Claire looked down.
“If Julian survives, none of this works.”
She covered her mouth.
“I was repeating what Richard said.”
“You were agreeing.”
“No.”
“You were there.”
“I never wanted you dead.”
Julian’s voice broke for the first time.
“You helped people who did.”
Claire collapsed into a chair.
“He promised the plan would only remove you from the company.”
“How?”
“A scandal.”
“What scandal?”
Claire hesitated.
Julian stepped closer.
“What scandal?”
“They were going to make it look like you had manipulated company earnings.”
Julian stared at her.
“And if that failed?”
Claire said nothing.
He already knew.
The insurance policy was the backup.
Death was the backup.
Julian walked toward the door.
Claire grabbed his sleeve.
“Please.”
He turned.
“Does Vanessa know you’re talking to me?”
“No.”
“Does Richard?”
“No.”
Julian looked at his sister.
“You have one chance to make this right.”
Claire nodded through tears.
“What do I do?”
“Go back.”
She stared at him.
“Back?”
“Pretend I know nothing.”
Claire understood.
“You want me inside.”
“Yes.”
“That could be dangerous.”
Julian looked at her coldly.
“So was leaving our mother alone beside a swimming pool.”
Claire lowered her eyes.
May you like
Then she nodded.
And for the first time, Julian began planning his counterattack.
